starting problems

Just in case it is the battery, can a friend, co-worker or neighbor give you a jump start to confirm it's not the battery? Quick and cheap test.

If you are sure the battery is good, there may be a bad connection at either end of the negative and/or positive battery cables, but in this case when there is a click every time, bad solenoid contacts are more likely. The solenoid sits on the starter, and is the remotely operated high current switch for the starter. the internal contacts in the solenoid can possibly be filed clean if they are not too badly worn. If you can get it open...

Asbjørn

I took the starter off and had it checked at Advance Auto. It passed the tests on the machine. The thing spun up immediately and the shaft extended then retracted.

I brought it back home and reinstalled it then took the van back there to have the electrical system checked. Everything passes nicely.

During removal of the starter I took the round part off that has the two long screws before I realized there was still the rest of the starter attached to the engine. I then took that part off and put the whole assembly back together on the bench. Is it possible I shook something loose or perhaps had a bad connection or wire going bad? Right now it's working fine.

Then you failed to take the most likely source of error, the solenoid (the smaller box), to the test. You may have fixed a bad connection or stirred something but that may not be a lasting cure. The contacts inside the solenoid should be inspected. Good luck.

Asbjørn

Check the electrical contacts that are made when the solenoid moves. I just did the starter in a 98 Camry 4 cyl and the contacts were worn very thin. There are two contacts on opposite sides. One was worn more than the other which made the contactor have to 'flex' to connect properly. This flexing was difficult and made making good connections difficult. Change the starter/solenoid assembly and all will be well.