I just changed my battery a few weeks ago, and the other day the car just started to click when I went to start it. Banged on the starter and then it fired up. Next morning it did the same thing, I banged on the starter when my wife turned the key and it started. The VSA light then went on, and I drove it to the shop to get a new started installed. New starter installed, and VSA light went off. Well, it has been 3 days and i just ran to the store and went to start it and it just clicked and then after a few more tries it wouldnt even click, just nothing. Interior lights came on, radio etc. So then I put jumper cables to it and then banged on the starter and it finally started. I'm going to bring back to shop that put in new starter, but any other ideas that it may be something else ?? Battery cables look good, clean terminals, looks like good ground wire. No other electrical issues, except for a headlight that is on its way out - turning pink and then goes out. Related ? Ignition Switch ? I've seen some comments about switches under the shifter and spilling drinks ? I spilled some soda in the center a few times in past few months - related ? Any insight/ideas would be awesome ! Thanks

 

Sounds like the shop put in a cheap-as-shit starter on it.

I see it all the time in our shop....customer wants to pay the bare-bones price, and sacrifice quality over bottom dollar. As an auto tech, i see it all the time. Most reputable shops will give you an option...go with starter A, which is a cheap brand, or starter B, which costs more, but is of higher quality. Choice is yours.

That way, if anything fails on down the line, it's the customers fault for chosing the lesser of 2 evils.

 

Have your electrical system load tested, may have a bad alternator.

 

Double-check the ground lead to the starter. Disconnect one end and measure its resistance. Use a good meter on milli-Ohm range if you have access to one.

 

Yeah, check the battery & starter's grounds. They tend to corrode from the inside.
Also, have the electrical system load tested. Ya may have a scavenger leak or short ?

 

Could very well be a bad starter. I would be looking close at the cable connections for both the battery, starter, and grounds.