Trouble Starting

[65fast]

Sometimes my car will randomly have a problem where it wont start. I will go to start and the starter will engage but the starter solendoid on the fender will make a buzzing noise. The first time it happened I replaced the + battery cable and it fixed the problem(about 7 months ago). Gradually over time I have notice the connection on the + post has gotten almost to the point of being compeletly black . Then last week the same problem happend. I cleaned both the terminal and post and fixed the problem enough for me to start me car one more time then same problem(+ post seemed sorta warm). I got a new cable today same thing, messed with some connections (all were tight) and it fired up. I know I need a new voltage regulator since the lights flicker(checked grounds) but I doubt that has anything to do with it. The main reason I am so bothered about it is I dont want this to happen and the car leave me stranded some where. Thanks for the help.
-Carson

 

[Anonymous]

Have you checked the ground?

 

[65fast]

Yeap, I forgot to mention I have a new starter solenoid too.

 

[Anonymous]

The buzzing solenoid is a good clue.
This holds 2 possibilites:
1.) there is a near-overload at the starter, which is fairly rare. Shorted starters are usually a permanent short on at least one pole.
2.) the cable to the solenoid has poor connections at either the battery or the solenoid, which would explain why replacing the cable fixed it for a while. However, I have seen some very poor quality in the battery cables from Exide, if that's what you bought, which will simply repeat the problem. If so, try this: clean the connections at the battery and the solenoid (both sides of the solenoid), then smear some Vaseline onto the connectors before putting it all back together. When you tighten it all up, tighten slowly so the Vaseline has time to squeeze out from the contact areas. Wipe off the excess with a rag and leave it greasy. This prevents the water molecules from working down into the cheap plating on the Exide cables, which is what causes that black appearance - it's corrosion.