Starter just clicks, battery hot,when turning key some times the starter will work. i suspect starter solenoid?

No relay, no unique fuse. See attached diagram.

Ignition switch is fed directly from "hot at all times" through neutral safety to start solenoid. Overcurrent protection for "hot at all times" is a fusible link.

So likely the problem is insufficient starter motor current. Could be poor quality high current cabling/terminal from either side of the battery including engine block ground. At this age, every positive and negative cable termination is suspect.

There is also the possibility the starter is jammed or otherwise unable to turn engine (stuck engine).

Check the solenoid. The solenoid is the real switch between the battery and the starter, the key switch only activates the solenoid. The click you're hearing is probably the solenoid trying to click in, if it's faulty it makes no contact and the starter will not turn.

wiring to the starter; large cable coming from the battery to the
large post on the starter is direct current, hot at all times. there are two small wires that connect to the solenoid, one comes from the ignition.
Look for loose connection especially ground. If you jumper the connection on the solenoid to the large connection on the battery and it starts, I would suspect fault in the ignition circuit...

If you have good voltage in the battery and a clicking sound ... either the start solenoid is faulty or the starter is faulty. You can check the start solenoid with a voltage meter. Place the probes one to the starter side of the solenoid the other to ground. Have someone turn the key. The battery side of the solenoid will always have 12 volts on it. The battery side should only have 12 volts when the solenoid is activated (you turned the key). If you get 12 volts on the start side, suspect the starter.

u for your question @ FixYa.com

maybe. Try jumping the car. If it jumps ok, make sure battery terminals are tight.
If it doesn't jump, either the starter or solenoid is bad.
Often times, you cannot buy a solenoid separate from the starter anyway, so you may just want to buy both and avoid additional troubleshooting steps.
If you want to troubleshoot further, try smacking the starter with a hammer and then try starting. If that works, the starter is bad and the solenoid is good.
If that doesn't work, you can try jumping the hot terminal on the solenoid to the start terminal to verify the solenoid is clicking. For details on doing that, please see my tip at http://www.fixya.com/cars/r6222268-engine_doesnt_crank_turn_over .
If the solenoid is clicking, the starter is bad.

If you have more questions, please let me know.

Hello LostLynne.
The most common issue is a bad contact in the starter solenoid.
This solenoid is part of the starter assembly and makes the high amperage battery to starter connection
When you hear the click the solenoid is activating but not completing the battery to starter contact.
If this is an original starter or been on for a long time I would suggest changing the starter assembly.
Also in your under hood fuse/relay panel there is a smaller relay that activates the starter solenoid that should be checked before replacing the starter. Although less common for that to happen it does occasionally cause a problem. Easy to replace too.
If you have further questions please ask me.

KL

If your here just one click when you turn the key to start then i suspect you have a starter going bad.If you heard several clicks while turning the key over once then that would be a weak battery.:)

Does it make the loud click just once, or will it continue to click when you turn the key?
If it is just once, then there is still a bad connection someplace for the main power. If it continues to click every time you turn the key to "start", then it is probably the starter solenoid itself that is bad. There are two big terminals (bolts) on the solenoid, and if you connect a 12V test light or meter across them, you should see power there. If the light doesn't go out (or very dim) when you turn the ign. to 'start', then the solenoid is bad. If the light goes out and the starter doesn't turn, then there is something wrong with the starter. I suspect the solenoid also because it works better with a strong charge on the battery.

The click you are hearing is the starter solenoid. This solenoid is a relay that applies 12 volts (at high current) to the starter motor. When you turn the ignition key you apply 12 volts ( at low current) to the solenoid. If jiggling the key solves the problem all of the time I would suspect the ignition key assembly.
If jiggling the key only works some of the time I would suspect the solenoid/starter assembly. For your info the solenoid/starter comes as a complete assembly, when you buy it.

Hope this helps

Loringh

I would suspect the starter solenoid or the starter. I may be telling you something you already know, so if I am, bear with me. When you turn the ignition key to start the car, you apply 12 volt to the starter solenoid (which is physically located on the starter). The solenoid is actually a relay that applies 12 volts( at very high current) to the starter. Since you are not hearing any clicking when you turn the key, I suspect the solenoid. BTW, when you get a starter it usually comes with a solenoid already atteched.

Hope this helps Good luck Loringh