Well, at least the starter isn’t dead.
I may have finally resolved my issues but I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch. The day before yesterday I got it home. I disconnected the battery cables overnight and the next day after reconnecting them I tried it. It wouldn't start. So I crawled under it and gave the starter a few taps with a hammer and voilà, it started five times in a row then wouldn't start again. Since the starter was less than a year old, in my mind I thought it just couldn't be the problem but it appeared I was wrong.
Just out of curiosity, I pulled the key cylinder to check the actuator and the ignition switch to see if perhaps one of those were also part of the issue. Both parts appeared to be fine. I had replaced the actuator about a year and a half ago. I knew I had power from there because I had been able to get it started intermittently but I decided to be safe rather than sorry.
Anyway, I pulled the drive shaft and the starter. I remember when I installed it what a pain in the **** it was because and at the time I was so happy that I would likely never have to do it again. Ha ha, silly me. I tested the starter and sure enough, the gear shaft didn't pop out or turn and the starter just hummed. Yup, the starter had failed. Fortunately, the starter was under warranty but that didn't make the task any easier. The guy at the parts store gave me a full new warranty, as well he should.
After I installed the new starter and before I put the drive shaft back in I turned the key and it started right up so I reinstalled the drive shaft thinking I had everything in order. I then started it again and took it for a drive. When I got back, I shut it off. I had parked it on the lawn so I could pick up the tools and clean up a bit. When I went to start it again, it wouldn't start. By then, I had enough for the day so I cleaned up a bit. Then I disconnected the battery over night and it still wouldn't crank after reconnecting it this morning. I pulled the relay again and bypassed it and it cranked so I swapped the relay with another relay and it started right up. I have started it several times since. Call me paranoid as I'm still a bit wary of taking it anywhere and shutting it off but I'm going to replace some of the relays just to be on the safe side. What's weird is the relay I pulled was the one for the wiper speed regulator and it still works with the starter relay in it's place.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction on this. That, with a few Youtube videos helped me resolve the issues... hopefully.
