So I did everything you guys recommended today - cleaned all the contacts (that I was sure I had cleaned before well enough), checked the linkages and turned over and started first try.
Thank you so much, you guys are amazing. Frustration over!
When I just had my pinched wire issue recently, it resulted in a plume of white smoke. That really blew my legs out until I found the cause (with help from this site), so I know how you probably were feeling! Glad your issue is fixed!
I had a similar issue with another car I had years ago. The prior owners rigged the starter wire harness with a giant wire nut. One day I went to start the car and it was stone cold dead. Battery was fine, alternator fine, starter fine, I fought with it for 6 mos. with no luck. One day I was cleaning stuff in the garage, and from a different angle, noticed a small, thin wire hanging down near the firewall behind the engine...
