Thanks for the replies.  I put a large screwdriver on the starter
casing and hit it from the engine side - it came loose after a few
strong whacks.  She's a little rusty underneath, something that i'll
have to address someday in the future.

I got the starter on the ground and did a quick bench test for the
starter motor (positive on the post going from the solenoid to the
starter, grounded to the starter mount) and nothing happened but a few
minor sparks coming from the exposed wire going from the solenoid to
the starter.  I disconnected the cables and touched that wire with a
screwdriver and it crumbled.

So, that wire is dust.  What's the diagnosis?....does that mean bad
starter, bad solenoid, neither, both?

Thanks again for the help!

dusty.
On Apr 1, 2007, at 2:52 PM, Benny boy wrote:

> Stuck by rust, maybe on the lower bolt/stud, take a solid flat srew
> driver
> and bang this one in between the starter and trany/bell housing.
>
> This is strange, because of all the rusty van i work on, even the
> starter
> comme off easily.
>
> Ben
>
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