Lincoln Town Car Forum : “starter will not engage. Battery is good, headlights work & electric windows, et...”

I'm having the same problem. The car worked just fine one day, and the next it suddenly decided not to start anymore. No clicking sound or anything.

The last time this happened, I had it towed in to a repair guy who gave me a new battery, new battery cables, and hit the side of the starter with a wrench, and it started right up.

If the battery is good, and you're sure your cables are good, try hitting the side of the starter with a wrench. The guy told me my starter has a bad spot and I should get it replaced. I didn't, so now I have to figure out where the starter is and what it looks like so I can try that myself.

I hear it might also be the solenoid. Which is much cheaper to replace than a starter.

Remove it and bench test the starter, alot of parts stores can do this for you.  Or you can disconnect the battery from the solenoid relay and test resistance across the main terminals to see if it's the solenoid.  

MAKE SURE YOU DISCONNECT THE  BATTERY BEFORE REMOVING TERMINALS TO THE RELAY!!!  Then make sure the wires aren't touching anything before you reconnect the battery to test the solenoid.

If the solenoid is working and has power on the 'hot terminal' then its the starter, but since you hear no click it's likely the solenoid relay or a wire leading to it.