1997 lesabre starter question

the starter on my wifes lesabre is starting to act up the last couple months....first it was the occasional no start the first couple trys...just click click....now for a while i had to tap the starter and it would be ok...which convinces me its definitly the starter.....but latley all i do is hold the key in the start position for like 10 seconds and it works.......( if i just try to start it clicks.....if i hold the key forward like im trying to start it...it will go about 5-10 seconds then start).....Ive heard a few people having solnoid problems...so im wondering if thats it?????....how would any of you diagnose this???? Thanks in advance and sorry for such a long post just trying to be descriptive:smile:

Had a similar problem with an old Chev. By holding the key, I was sure things were heating up, and finally current was getting through to the solenoid. If this is the same problem as I had, take the wires off at the solenoid and give them a good cleaning. Might do the trick for you.
If that doesn't work, try bypassing the solenoid, and if the starter spins, my GUESS is you have a solenoid problem. (Don't spin the starter motor for more than a couple of seconds, or you could damage it) No spin,
would then be a starter motor problem.