so one day i started the car with the remote start, i had to tap on the on the starter solenoid btw. the car ran for about 10-15 seconds and i opened the trunk. alarm went off and the car turned off. i tried to start it with the key and it was sluggish as if the battery was dead. so i charged the battery and tried to start it with the key the next day...nothing but clicks.

i tap on the starter solenoid still nothing but clicks. so i remove the starter, take it to autozone they test it twice and the computer says that it is fine.

i put the starter back in, try to start with the key, nothing but clicks. i feel the solenoid to see it the plunger is popping out and it is.

what could be the cause? does starting the car for 10-15 seconds and shutting it off have a negative effect? at this point i am ready to just replace the starter just to rule that out.

1995 Q45 w/no history of starting problems

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anyways today i decide to tap the starter instead of the solenoid. what do you know...it turned. it was very weak though as if the battery was dead. i checked the battery again 12.1 volts.

for now i'm going to replace the starter with a take off oem i found on ebay.

fully charged, it should read 12.8 to 12.9 volts- again,you must load test battery

Obviously you have not kept up with the numerous reports of recent examples of Optima problems and short life- seems their quality took a dump within the last couple years.

The Optima is NOT a gel cell battery, but an Absorbed Glass Mat {AGM} design.

12.1 volts is a seriously DISCHARGED battery, as a fully charged AGM battery reads 12.9-13.1 volts- without a proper LOAD TEST performed on the battery, one can never know if it has the CURRENT to properly spin the starter.

Basic,basic battery knowledge.

i've done this 3 times since this has started. car wont turn, get under the car, tap the solenoid, car starts. if the battery was dead it shouldn't have started at all.

Must find out why you are getting only 12.1 volts from a fully charged battery- either defective battery or charger{alternator?}

Is the battery voltage with the engine running or off? It should be about 14.2 volts running. Is your brake light dimly lit by chance? Just probing in case it's a dying alternator draining the battery.

How are the battery clamps? Tightening snug and don't rotate?

90 Q45 Base 246,000 miles

so i took the battery to autozone, the tested. it was good, but a little low. so i charged at 15 amps. tried to start the car some thing.

so i replaced the starter as planed. and it started right up.

so my initial thoughts where correct and it was definitely the starter.

thanks to everybody for the help. thanks to jedcoop for his starter replacement writeup. i was able to remove both bolts using a combination of extensions and a flexible joint. i don't know how you were able to remove the top bolt with 12 point wrench and ratchet. my wrench just didn't fit.