I was stranded on the Jersey Turnpike, and at the mercy of a local mechanic, but according to him, he pinpointed the problem as the switch. And according to the bill, you're right, it was quite a job.

Thanks for your other suggestions--I will definitely give the voltage testing a shot--the trick will be, as you mentioned, that the starter not be working...

If the battery is failing, any chance the supplied voltage would dip lower at certain times (e.g., right after the car has been running--not logical, i know) so that i wouldn't get enough charge to energize the solenoid?