Can anyone help me with my starter and or ignition issues on a 1993 skylark?

Question

Car is a 1993 3.3L v-6 automatic with 240,000 miles and has been having problems starting for a few months. It will drive for 3-4 days then start running really rough and stalling out and then unable to start again for a few days. Now it will not start no matter what even with a jump. The battery is good had it tested and all the lights/radio come on in start position but when go to turn it over everything goes out instantly and it doesn't even try to turn over. Is it safe to assume my starter had been slowly dying and is now dead or should I look at the wiring, relays, solenoid first?

The number 2&5 ignition coil was arcing badly and that was just replaced. The car after sitting for awhile did try to turn over and the fan came on but no clicking aside from the initial turning of the key there is a click and hum that may be from the starter but I was told the hum was probably the fuel pump coming on. Hard to tell without someone else to help locate things.

Answer 1

It could be number of things..best to have the ignition circuit checked out for a bad ignition switch, bad neutral safety switch or bad/loose/corroded battery cables. Usually a bad starter solenoid will make a clicking noise when trying to start if all else is ok. Testing the ignition circuit should help in diagnosing the problem. The running rough/stalling may indicate some other problem or it could be from a poor power connection in the ignition circuit. The ignition circuit is comprised of the ignition switch, neutral safety switch and starter plus the battery, cables and wiring. The circuit also runs power through the ignition switch to ignite the spark with ignition coils and module which are a separate issue with the car running right or stalling.

Answer 2

down on the trany bolt in front is the ground wire for the battery. I have had a few that look good but have a lot of corision on & or in them and it sounds like a slow short.