98 leSabre--172,000 miles

This morning my car wouldn't crank. Checked battery connections, fuses. I could hear a relay under dash right side when I turned the key to CRANK but nothing happened. Tried many times over 8 hours to start--no crank.

Finally towed car home and got it in garage. Went out later to test the feel of turning the key. I'd noticed in past months there was a springy feel when turning the key to ON and CRANK. That was gone now and movement was smooth as silk. After turning it several times the starter worked and car runs just fine.

Is this an ignition switch problem down on top of steering column? Can that be replaced without removing the column which is the way the factory service manual shows it.

Starter problem? Replaced about 30-40,000 miles ago with AC Delco rebuild shop unit. Desk guy said that oil drips from oil pan and gets into solenoid and causes failure.

But the starter didn't give any hint of trouble earlier and sounds great now.

What do I need to check? I should have checked voltage at the starter for CRANK voltage before trying out the feel of the key inside the car, but it'* too late now to find out.

P.*.>
the VATS quit working several summers back. It would light up. Sometimes wouldn't start on first turn and would start on 2nd turn of key. Now the security light never comes on.

Be sure to check both ends of both battery cables, clean them up good and put some dielectric grease and tighten.

My first feeling is starter soleniod. Like you said though..unless you check when it'* acting up there'* no real way to know.

If I take the starter out is there a way to disassemble the solenoid to see if there'* oil inside affecting contacts?

I was under the car when it wouldn't start and tapped on the starter housing with a jack handle and I twisted and pulled on the wires thinking if there was corrosion that might cause them to make contact.

The air dam has to come off first to get a good look at the connections there. I'll probably do that during the snowstorm over the weekend.

They make soleniod kits, I'm pretty sure there'* a way to open them and clean them up etc. Never done it, but people used to.