Starter
 

If car started with extra battery, that starter is certainly dragging. Pull starter out and have it checked. It takes a lot of amps to turn over engine.

Take your battery load tester and test the battery AND the wiring by connecting it to the starter terminals. If the car started o.k. with two batteries but won't start good with one battery, then either you have corroded wiring/connections or a bad starter. Take a look at the condition of the interface between the battery clamp and the cable. You might have to skin back the insulation, but if you find corrosion, that's the culpret!

I've been off the boards for a week but I meant to get back to this topic with what I believe is a successful conclusion. I remember Mike Tangas saying to check the connections but they looked OK. It wasn't until I removed the main power cable from the battery that I was actually able to SEE the ignition wire which goes to the solenoid. I reached in and grabbed the wire and to my surprise it was loose. The screw that holds it on was tight but it was still loose. To remedy this I found two very small washers in my toolbox to take up the slack. Once it was tight the problem vanished. Mission accomplished. Check the connections, rinse, repeat.
Thom

Ahhh, closure.

;) :) :D

What is frustrating is that the connection SEEMED to be fine if you just looked at it. It's when you touch or jiggled the wire that you realize that it's very loose. Hands on works best I suppose.
Thom