245 starting issues

[Rusty245]

Hey Guys. New to the forum here. I am driving a 1978, 245 that my Dad bought new when I was 10. He has since passed, but it is still have it as my daily driver. It has been a great car and well maintained, with 99% of the work needed being done by either my Dad or myself. I think the death of this car will be the eventual running out of available parts someday...

I'm having a 2 starting issues that hopefully you can help. Not sure if they are related or not. It started a month or two ago. It first started with a slight (a split second) delay when turning the key to start. You would turn the key all the way to the right, have a dead spot of a split second, and then the starter would engage and turn over the car as normal. It would happen sporadically though. Then one day I turned the key and the starter was just slow and weak, like "rugh-rugh-rugh". I would turn the key off, wait a second and then try again. It would fire right over like nothing was wrong. Again, not all the time though; maybe once every 5 or 6 starts.

I changed the ignition switch a year ago, along with a brand new Bosch starter (not rebuilt) as it was turning over slower than normal. Seemed to do the trick. I also changed the spark plugs, wires and coil for a tune up at the same time. Only drive about 2-3 thousand miles a year on it. With the recent starting issues described above, I changed the battery and both battery cables and ground strap that connects engine to back firewall. When I did, the starting issues seemed to be fixed; both starting issues cleared up for about 2 weeks. Today, however, I got both the delay at one stop running errands and then the "rugh-rugh-rugh" at another stop.

Any ideas on what these symptoms can be? I know there is a ignition module up on the passenger side inner fender well. Can this be causing any of the symptoms? Greatly appreciate any help or insights.

Thanks!

[volvolugnut]

You seem to have replaced most of the usual suspects in slow cranks.
I suggest you go back to your battery cables and starter to make sure all contacts points are clean and have no corrosion. Clean them all to shiny condition with a wire brush and tighten well. Also, if there are any spade connections in the starter wiring, work them on and off a few times to scrap any corrosion inside the connection.
Keep that oldie running!
volvolugnut