Ok so I misdiagnosed this problem, and went out and bought a solenoid but still didnt fix.

The problem is this; car doesnt start.

If i put a wire from the + terminal on the battery to the ignition switch terminal on the starter solenoid, it clicks and i can see the (wheel that the starter cranks) move a little bit (like one notch if that). The manual says if you do this than the starter should rotate. My question is, is the starter rotating? I would hope to see more movement, but maybe thats all it does? i can hear the sound like the plunger is actuating. If the starter rotates with me bypassing the ignition switch, will the car normally start? or is a slight movement of the ("cranking wheel" (large wheel that the starter mates with)) enough to get the car started generally and the fault lies somewhere else...


The other thing is that there is alot of oil everywhere including inside the old solenoid, could this make the starter not work properly? is it possible that something is stuck inside the starter, are they able to be dissasembled? There are two screws on the back on it but I am unsure if it is user seviceable.

ALso it should be noted that this starter is aprox 10 months old. I would take it back for warantee but my son shredded the receipt some time ago.

any help appreciated, I just dont really know what the manual means when it says " if the starter motor rotates" as I cant see the motor itself but only the "cranking wheel" that it is connect to. THe plunger sounds like its deploying, but maybe just not turning, not enough torque? Pretty sure the engines not siezed as it has plenty of oil and was driving fine till it just didnt start one day.


thanks