dsmess,

Ring gear wil not effect the solonoid working because ring gear is not connected to the pinion gear until after the solonoid actuates (pushes the pinion gear into mesh with the ring gear?

A bad ring gear may cause grinding when the ring pinion gear try to mesh but that means the solonoid has worked.

The current that goes thru the pick coil in the solonoid goes thru the starter so the started has to conduct current for the solonoid to work. So an intermittent starter can cause the solonoid not to work.

P E H