Strange electircal behavior, is it just the starter?

[conundrum]

All of these things have happened over the past 2 months.
First my battery went out so I replaced it,
then the alternator went bad and the serpentine belt so I replaced both of those items,
then some strange things started happening with the electrical system like the interior lights would come on and off at strange times and the tacometer went heywire and finally the car would not start; so figured the starter needs to be repalced; my next course of action is to take the starter out and test it (I am in the process of doing this)
But until just recently I was able to get the car started with a fully charged battery plus a jump form another battery (now the car won't start at all, and by the way it is not the passkey II sercurity option that is preventing me form starting because I tried my extra key and I do not get a "passkey II, wait 3 minutes" message on the D.I.C.) Anyway, once I did get the car started this way (with a jump) the tach was still heywire and the speedometer also lost its ability to function properly. Also, I tested the resistence at the battery cables (with the car off) for a drain (with a volt meter) and I found a resistence of 2000 Ohms; is this normal for a closed circuit when the key is not in the ignition? Also, I have tested the battery to see if it holds its charge when not connected to the car and it does hold a 100% charge. And, I have tested the battery's charge after it has been connected the car overnight with no attempts made to start the car and it seems to lose about 15% of its' charge but I know that this 15% or so drain is not the entire problem because as I said even with jumps from 2 other batteries the car will still not start; the power of my battery plus the power of the other batteries should deliver enough cranking amps to at least start the car once, right?
So my questions are: based on the above infomation it seems that there is another problem besides the starter; do you think there is electircal drain somewhere?, do you think that there is something wrong with the car's computer?, can the quirky electrical issues like the tach and speedo be somehow realted to the starter? , or this there another problem that I am not considering?

Does anyone have an idea of what could be causing this bundleing of electrical problems?

[Indy8]

Any attempt to solve mysterious electrical problems should not be undertaken without a factory service manual. Not mandatory, just a very good suggestion. Anyway, have you checked all ground points both under backseat and under hood?

[conundrum]

Yes, checking the ground points under the seat and hood were two of the first things that I need. But I have not gotten to the starter yet; could there be a bad ground point at the solenoid?

[conundrum]

SORRY- I meant to write:

Yes, checking the ground points under the seat and hood were two of the first things that I "did". But I have not gotten to the starter yet; could there be a bad ground point at the solenoid?

[bustedratchet]

I couldn't see a bad ground at the starter solenoid since the ground is gotten from the case of the starter. Does the + battery terminal have 1 or 2 wires coming to the battery ? I have seen some corrosion between the 2 plates not allowing the car to start. In your first post while checking for drain you said you had 2000k ohms I think you should have the meter on volts. But with this car I'm sure there is always an electrical drain with the keep alive memory systems in this thing. Another possiblility is an ignition switch.

[conundrum]

Originally Posted by bustedratchet

I couldn't see a bad ground at the starter solenoid since the ground is gotten from the case of the starter. Does the + battery terminal have 1 or 2 wires coming to the battery ? I have seen some corrosion between the 2 plates not allowing the car to start. In your first post while checking for drain you said you had 2000k ohms I think you should have the meter on volts. But with this car I'm sure there is always an electrical drain with the keep alive memory systems in this thing. Another possiblility is an ignition switch.

There are 2 wires going to the battery but I checked for corrision there as well, and there is none. As far as the ignition goes: when I attempt to start the car I can hear the starter solenoid clicking but the starter motor just doesn't move; if the ignition swith were bad then it would send no signal at all to the solenoid, correct?

Also, what does the relay that is located in the rear compartment drivers side fuse box which labeled DAP ACSRY (direct accessory power- accessory relay) aka fuse #23 do? A clicking noise (in addition to the clicking of the starter solenoid) also comes from this relay when I attempt to start the car.

[bustedratchet]

Sounds like you might have to check the starter.Usually when you here a click at the solenoid and no motor it is the starter. I mentioned the ignition switch because of the tach and the lights freaking out.

[conundrum]

Originally Posted by bustedratchet

Sounds like you might have to check the starter.Usually when you here a click at the solenoid and no motor it is the starter. I mentioned the ignition switch because of the tach and the lights freaking out.

Yeah, that's what I think too; about the starter motor at least. BTW, that starter is a real hassle to get to in this car espcially in this Chicago winter weather (5 degrees F yesterday).

So, you think that it may be two isolated problems (the starter motor and the ignition switch)?