Electrical issues Options

[The Iron Goat]

While I was running errands this evening, I stopped in a store for about 5-10 min, come back out, and I get nothing when I turn the key. Fuel pump ran, everything seemed to be happening as it should, but no cranking. Tried a jump: nothing. Finally, the alarm starts going off! I think "WTF?", and turn it off.

Then it hits me: the alarm hasn't been working right at all lately, and it controls the starter power from the ignition. So I pull the alarm out, get some electrical tape and hotwired the starter leads together. Try it once and it doesn't turn, but sounded very different. Try #2 yields a slight hesitation and BANG, we have liftoff. I drove it home, but it's too late to be messing with it tonight.

What's the concensus? Did I find the correct problem, or did the real broken part (engine relay, ect.) just happen to start working at that moment?

[The Iron Goat]

Well, the car had been starting just fine until I had my problems with the battery not charging. Re-doing the connections has fixed that little problem, but this evening the car wouldn't turn over again. Very P.O.ed, I tried a couple of the traditional tricks (tapping relays, smacking starter with hammer) but nothing worked. Then I found the starter cable was loose So I tightened that the best I could and I'm back in business...............for now.