96 metro starting problem?

I have a 96 geo metro, 4 cylinder, automatic, with 180,000 plus miles and it runs good. It has had only one owner before( this is for certain) ,the other day i stopped the car and when i went to start it nothing happen. no sound of starting or anything. My bro-in-law came and gave me a jump and said it need a new battery , which i replaced because the other one was over 6 years old. I had been hearing a gurgling sound before which i thought was water from the engine cooling down (because I live in the desert and it was over 109 for awhile) and i been hearing a whimpering sound when i turn on the key. I had driven the car from Ridgecrest to Covina (3 hours about apr 180 miles).
Anyway i replace the battery, drove the car stopped several times approx. 4 times, on the last stop when i went to start the car it made a sound as if i had turn the car on when it was already started. it was the screching sound. i drove to mojave (130 miles) and stop for gas and when to start it and nothing happen . called triple A and they could not start it and they said it was the starter. so i had the starter replace yesterday. when i turn on the key after having the starter replace there was a sound like i had over turn the key.(it sound as through i tried to start the car again while it was already started) again. i drove the car home and turn it off then tried to start it and nothing. It did the same thing it did in Mojave. My mechanic came over got it started and said it was the neutral saftey switch that is causing the problem. Is this correct? I thought it could be the generator because of that starting noise, but the tow truck guy had told me that it was most likely not because when a jump is given and if the generator was bad or the battery the car would start(which it did not). the car has worked fine before this except for that little whimpering sound when i had turn on the key and that gargling sound. I had a mecury before i remeber that that sound was like the water was boiling. Could the problem be the generator? I think it might just be what he said because after all he was able to start the car by fiddling with something underneath. that sound i heard when i started it worrys me though. how can i check it out? thanks for any info

Some things confuse me about this post. It says that the first time it refused to start a jump start got it going - this would suggest a battery problem. However the problem persisted so I do not understand how a jump start could have got it going in the first place - unless it was just a coincidence.

The first point is that the key to a successful repair is a correct diagonsis of the problem which involves running tests on the car when the problem happens and then diagnosing the problem in a scientific manner - not simply replacing components that may be faulty by guessing... Should have run some voltage tests on the battery before replacing IMO.

That said yes, the alternator is unlikely to be the problem. The neutral safety switch on the other hand could cause this. The NSS tells the ECM what position the shift selector is in. As a safety precaution the car is prevented from cranking if the transmission is in gear. If the switch malfunctions the ECM could believe that the transmission is in gear and prevent cranking.

The noises could be unconnected to the starting problem.

you can wear gloves and use a screwdriver to short the to posts on the starter

what is often the problem in this case is actually the wire going from the battery to the starter. get a jumper cable put the black and red on a good battery. put the black on the engine, the red on the starting post.

this sounds like it to me, that would explain starting with a jump as the extra juice can make it throught the frayed wire.

Anyhow this is at least your first diagnosis. I mean, you can taked the starter out, jumper to the battery hit both posts so you see spinning and the solenoid jump out. Thats testing your starter so if it works ok, it is in ignition.

Some local auto parts stores also will bench test starters and alternators for you, just remove them from the car and take them in. Around here Schucks/Kragen will do it for free.

Some local auto parts stores also will bench test starters and alternators for you, just remove them from the car and take them in. Around here Schucks/Kragen will do it for free.

yes but you can test it yourself is all Im pointing out. by the time youve got it out, just hit both posts on it.

Not sure how helpful this will be. But.....

I seem to remember like a 6 month period about 4 years ago where my '95 would seem completely dead somewhat frequently. Dash lights up, batt. good but no starter. Then all of a sudden it would work. Seemed to be the positive terminal at the starter, like maybe it was loose or something. I don't even remember if I actually ever fixed it, just quit doing that. But still now, it willl do that every once in a blue moon. Like maybe 1 or 2 times a year, tops. Of course it's not fair to say that it didn't or wouldn't have done it during all this time since then cuz the car was in storage for some time a few times over the last couple years. this last time, it sat for almost 2 years. Definately check those battery terminal connections. That means all, not just at the battery. And it also doesn't mean just the nut/bolt connection. Make sure you check the actual crimp.