Short story: I want to wire an emergency start switch into the line that fires the starter solenoid. There is no access from underneath the car, with this area being filled with front drive shaft and heat shield, down-pipes, etc.
Would you know where I might find / tap into the wire that eventually makes its way to the solenoid activation terminal?

Longer story; 2002 e wagon w/ 125k miles, sometimes does not start. intermittent problem, not battery related. Happens with either key. Car will start (so far) two hours later. All the dash lights come on, but no starter activation, no crank. Been to the shop; no codes found. Poss bad ignition switch, starter, other?? I would like to be able to apply power to the starter when this next happens to rule out the starter. It looks like ab**** to get at.
Thanks,
Paul T

I really think it might be best to concentrate on the starter solenoid itself, possibly from below the car, or is that where you are looking? Up on top, I think there is a relay in the top of the K40 relay for starter activation.
Any message in the odometer window when its not starting? I would assume you'd mention it if there was, but thought I'd ask (something along the lines of "start error")
Gilly

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Gilly, from under the car, I can barely get a finger tip on the solenoid. There is no way to get at the solenoid connecttor with out removing lots of stuff. It is buried above the foreward drive shaft, heat shields, and downpipes.

There was no 'malfunction' display in the speedo.

I was hoping to hot wire the solenoid, through a moentary contact switch, to turn the engine over (with key switched ON) and start the car next time this happens; ...or if I do get power to the solenoid, and it does not turn over, this indicates a starter problem.

The shop found no codes, and the problem is intermittent with an occurence every three months. The shop suspected the EIS electronic ignition switch, but I would like to nail the diagnosis before we start throwing $1000 parts at it.

After two hours, so far, the car has restarted. This is my wife's car.