It's getting pretty regular this do-it-yourself repairing the old Volvo. I guess I am learning to be "self reliant"... that's why I have my bicycle on the rear of the car, and used it today while the car wouldn't start at my son's school, where I left his new trumpet study book...(oh, my, a new instrument! ) and after being immobilized I bicycled to the gas station and later got a push start (I've got a manual transmission) but later at home while picking at the greasy wires and seeing some evidence of 'biodegradable' wire insulation degrading and since I've changed this year my alternator, my Air Mass Meter and had my new alternator's wires later come loose, It could be anything in my starting circuit. (It is an '86 in a rusty NE location.) Where to begin?

The starter's always worked fine but as I tried to leave the school, it started to turn and then just went silent. Not the engine or batter as With lights on, the starter when ignition is turned on definitly draws amps but only once in awhile a minor clicking. I took the battery out and had it charged and the mechanic said nothing wrong with battery. Read parts of Hayne's repair manual about starter, Before I just go out and buy a rebuilt starter ($150 for starter and solenoid...and so far nobody's selling just the solenoid in my cursory phone price checks).

They say in book: "to check the solenoid, connect a jumper lead between the battery (+) and the ignition switch wire terminal (the small terminal) on the solenoid. If the starter motor now operates, the solenoid is OK and the problem is in the ignition switch, neutral start switch or the wiring."

I looked at solenoid and there is one big terminal and relatively tiny clip-on or slide-on wire clasp terminal. It just doesn't make sense that Both Positive battery circuits are going into same area of solenoid but I guess one could be a lesser amperage circuit (from ignition while there's a big one direct from battery). Also my Jumper cables are way too big to do that little terminal.. (so what do they mean by "jumper lead"? )

anyway these are pretty dumb questions I have and I suspect it's the wiring or solenoid and will find some aligator clips somewhere to do the little terminal's test... I did check the amperage fuse in one red circuit from battery and it seemed okay.. directly rear of battery (called a "fusible line" in book?) and fuses inside box at driver's side below knee all look good.

Let me know any hints from those who've had similar problems.

(need to stay away from the mechanics as I do have that expensive engine seal/timing belt change coming up... and part of the problem could be my engines starting to get oil covered from leaking seals and wiring could be also getting hurt...as bare wire is showing here and there....)

thanks,