'83 Gti not cranking!

[bonbon989]

Hey, whats up guys (and girls!)? I have an '83 Rabbit GTi, all stock. My battery is slowly dying and I'll need to replace it eventually, but I added water to it and charged it at 6 amps for about 3 1/2 hours. I made sure to connect the wires correctly, and had my dad check them. I am positive the batt. has a full charge. However, when I turn the key, I get a clicky-clicky. The instrument lights come on, the headlights are bright, and the fuel-injection growls...but not even a tired groan from the starter....any ideas? It has 1/4 of a tank of gas in it Thanks.

[boschmann]

You can try jumping the two large connectors on the starter solenoid with a heavy cable or a screwdriver you don't care to put burn marks on. It should crank if you're sure the battery is good. If it does you need a new starter solenoid, or just replacing the whole starter is sometimes cheaper.

[bonbon989]

Well, I tapped on the starter, and it sputtered to life....let it run for 5 mi9n.or so, shut it off. Tried to start it about 2 hrs later, sounded like a dead batt. Let it charge at 6 amps over night, tried it this morning, click-click. Replaced the batt. with one out of my sisters car, same thing, so I deduced that it has to be the starter. The cheapest I've found on-line was a rebuilt Bosch for $68 w/free shipping. Schucks auto parts in McMinnville, OR, (near me) wants $76 for a NEW starter with lifetime warranty... any of you know where I can get a better deal, if not I'm gonna probably go with Schucks. Thanks a bunch!