had a bad starter, replaced it now nothing when i turn the key. i tested the new starter before leaving the store, worked fine. when i arch between the polls on the starter it spins but does not kick out. when i turn the key, dummy lights dim, and i hear click, click, from a relay above where the fuses are. this is driving me crazy. lights are bright, just cleaned terminals at starter and battery, and i have tried starting the car in nuetral and park. the reverse lights come on when in reverse. i am new to this forum, and i just cant figure this out. please help. 89' 740 turbo wagon.

 

"spins but does not kick out"?
It should kick out to engage into the flywheel. Are you sure the new starter is OK?

 

arcing the starter with a beefy screwdriver across the contacts should start the car if you have the ignition on. If you are getting clicks etc, it sounds like a very bad ground or a big short short somewhere. Check battery terminal contacts, also where the negative cable contacts the body and look for the other engine earth (grounding) point. The current is all pouring away somewhere, so if you take off the ground straps, clean with sandpaper, brush off and replace them that should fix it. Also, the starter grounds through the engine, so take it off and give it a good clean where it contacts the car-you need metal on metal.

If this does not work, you might have an ignition barrel fault (waggle the key a bit), transmission inhibitor switch (you have tried that) or other wiring problem.

Once you sort it, you will probably find that your old starter was fine...I hate it when that happens. I once had so much corrosion in the starter cable there was just a tiny track of good copper down the middle to a dead spot.