94 escort won't turn over

Hello,

I'm hoping someone can help me out.

I have a 94 escort wagon with the 1.9 L engine and it won't turn over. The dashboard lights turn on when I turn the key and I hear a "Click" from the front at the passenger's side.

I can start the car and drive it by popping the clutch on a push start.

The battery has been removed and tested. It was reading a bit low so I replaced it. Terminals have been cleaned.

The starter has been removed and tested at an auto parts store. They tested it through the solinoid and said that the starter is good.

Last winter (when it gets cold in Wisconsin), I would turn the key and it would delay 1 or 2 seconds before it would turn over. Spring came arround and the problem went away. When the cold weather returned this fall, the problem began again. Now it won't even turn over.

Any thoughts?

Check the large ground wire that goes to the tranny. Adding a new ground wire from the neg battery post to the engine/tranny would'nt be a bad idea.
Other then that, since the battery is new, and starter/solinode checks out ok, the only thing left is the ignition key switch.

Clean the solenoid piston and cavity with some carburator cleaner. Lubricate it with some WD-40 spray lubricant. I think it gets so cold where you live that the grease in the solenoid gets stiff and won't allow the piston to close the starter contacts.

We used to have Chevettes.Many of them over 17 years.I have experenced these EXACT symptoms.(The 1 or 2 second delay can be the starter armature actually arcing..as the current load heats it up) What this does is gradually destroys the armature..one time it ain't gonna go at all.If it was a Chevette I would know where to head and nail it.
Do what the others have suggested..grounds,solenoid etc,But it still may be the starter
The starter.Can happen to pretty much any starters but some are reknowned for it..like Chevettes.Not sure about Escorts.

The actual starter armature..on the end where the brushes are.The copper sides have little gaps between them.Either this side gets worn..or moisture gets in the gaps..OR one of the actual wires in the armature is bad/burnt/shorted.Sometimes you can replace the brushes and clean it up with Scotchbrite pads and away you go.LOl..so you think till you find out it was a wire in the armature.

SOooo..you hit the key and it doesn't work.Relay/solenoid clicks.BUT! you take the thing out..disturb it..test it..take it in and have it tested..and it is ok.And you put it back in..LOL..maybe a few times.Ya right..till the damp cold weather comes again.

The only way that you can test this yourself is to have the starter not turn.Then either take the starter off and move the armature by moving the drive gear and see if it works now.If it works now..bad starter(armature).The other way is to take the starter apart test the armature..or take the armature to a rebuilder and have them test it on a "growler".

Check the large ground wire that goes to the tranny. Adding a new ground wire from the neg battery post to the engine/tranny would'nt be a bad idea.
Other then that, since the battery is new, and starter/solinode checks out ok, the only thing left is the ignition key switch.

Thank you for the help. I plan on giving this and the other ideas a try on Saturday.