Thanks, David! Unfortunately for me, because of my van's location
previously, I was unable to do these tests myself. I couldn't safely
get to the starter to check voltage.

I presume that the shop knows to check these things; I just wanted to
see if, given the collective wisdom of those on the list, there might
be some quirky reason that a starter might exhibit such a strange
intermittent issue.

Thanks again,
Marc

On Tue, Apr 25, 2017 at 12:35 AM, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net> wrote:
> This is a very simple system, but only a voltmeter will tell you what's
> going on with it.  Ignition switch terminal 50 supplies voltage to the 86
> terminal of your starting relay.  Is it getting there?  Is the 85 terminal
> grounded?  Does the relay operate?
>
> The relay supplies power from some nearby voltage source on its 30 terminal
> and switches it to the 87 terminal.  Is there voltage on the 30 terminal?
> Does it successfully switch to the 87 terminal?
>
> Does the voltage from the 87 terminal reach the 50 terminal on the starter?
> Does the starter solenoid engage?
>
> Does voltage from the battery reach the starter main post?  Is there
> excessive voltage drop between them?  Does connecting a jumper cable
> (car-starting type) from the starter case to chassis ground improve things?
>
> If the electrical stuff is all good, what's left is the starter.  The
> starter for a/t has an internal front bearing, so a worn bushing in the bell
> housing is not an issue.
>
> If your shop does not know how to diagnose this then they ought to be
> ashamed of calling themselves auto mechanics.
>
> Yrs,
> d
>
> On Tue, Apr 25, 2017 at 12:13 AM, Marc Perdue <mcperdue@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Okay, but I'm not sure which more and accurate details you want; I've
>> written about the problems I've been having several times, with
>> details.
>>
>> A number of years ago, I had problems where I would drive my van,
>> stop, and it wouldn't start. Turned out to be a loose connection,
>> small red wire with female spade connector. Tightened it, problem
>> solved.
>>
>> I installed the starter relay some time ago because the starter would
>> periodically not turn over when I turned the key. Try again, and it
>> starts, though the starter seemed anemic. I also cleaned all the
>> grounds that I could get to, to help that and other issues.
>>
>> Back in the fall, after having the engine rebuilt, I was driving the
>> van, stopped at a coffee shop, went back and the starter wouldn't turn
>> over. It has become habit with me to shift the auto shifter out of
>> Park and back again, then trying to start. This worked that time.
>> Within the next couple of days, that stopped working, though I could
>> turn the key and jiggle the shifter into Neutral and back into Park
>> and then it would work. Then that quit working, so I replaced the
>> neutral safety switch, to no avail.
>>
>> The van sat for a while while I asked the list for help, but it was
>> hard to troubleshoot because it was parked on a busy street. At that
>> point, I figured the battery might have run down, so I took it back to
>> Napa, where I had bought it a couple of years ago, to have it tested.
>> It was bad. They gave me a new battery.
>>
>> I installed the new battery when I could get to it, a couple of weeks
>> later. It still measured over 12 volts, but the starter would not turn
>> over. The fuel pump did, however. At this point, seeing that my
>> inspection was about to expire, I sent it to the shop because I
>> couldn't get under the van to measure anything on the starter.
>>
>> That's about all I've got.
>> Marc
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Apr 24, 2017 at 11:49 PM, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@comcast.net> wrote:
>> >
>> > On 24 Apr , 2017, at 9:36 PM, Marc Perdue wrote:
>> >
>> > I had no clear indication that it might be the switch.
>> >
>> > Again ~  If You want accurate help We Need More & Accurate Details ~
>> >
>> > On Mon, Apr 24, 2017 at 10:50 PM OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@comcast.net>
>> > wrote:
>> >>
>> >> On 24 Apr , 2017, at 8:01 PM, Marc Perdue wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > " it wouldn't start again. "
>> >>
>> >>         If You want accurate help We Need More & Accurate Details ~
>> >>
>> >> "I do have a spare ignition switch in the glove box of the van if that
>> >> might be the culprit."
>> >>
>> >>         Why hasn't that already been tried ~
>> >>
>> >>                                                         ORR ~ DeanB
>> >
>> >
>
>