No start problem that does not happen often.

I got that dreaded click of the solenoid when I turned the Ignition key.

Due to the click not as likely for it to be a neutral safety switch.

This is not a Mercedes. I found out I got one function out of the electric door locks. I tried the headlights and nothing. Indications that the battery is dead. Checking the battery showed good battery voltage.

I hooked up the battery charger a harbor freight one and the needle jumped around from green charged area to the lower green charged area. So it seemed to be charged. But still no go.

This happened to me one time before, but I did not have anything but a voltmeter. But the strong hint was on the battery The sticker on the battery had 5/20 on it. The battery is 13 years old.

What has happened is the plates inside are all used up and there is voltage but not much amperage.

How that was determined the first time it happened was I had gotten a jumper wire to jump from the positive to solenoid terminal and instead of that hot scary spark instead I got a soft small spark. This one is doing the same thing.

I have a battery load tester but use it so seldomly I am not sure where it is. I tool a battery from my other vehicle and put that in and it started fine.

In warm temp places like southern Ca. batteries can last a long time. This one lasted an unusually long time.

For a long time now, I have been using superstar batteries. They seem to hold up better in the face of you say leaving your lights for some extended time. AutoZone batteries don't seem to hold up as well. Also, the superstars of the same capacity are cheaper. Note if you have your veteran's card AutoZone and Orielly's auto parts give you a discount.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel