Hi Peter,

I followed your advise and disconnected and cleaned the battery cable and smaller wires that ares fastened to the solenoid. I re-install them making sure they were away from the single purple wire.

I started the engine 5 times in a row and everything worked just fine..the sarter worked they way it should. I hope this is the end of it.

Maybe the charging problems had to do with the connection at the starter...that's where the alternator and battery meet. Well...this week I'll know the scope of everything.

Thanks.