2000 GTI - Starter Cable Issue

[Bigfoot100]

We are original owners, and this is a new problem. When we hit the START button, we can hear the click of the relay, but the starter does not turn. However, I can grab the red cable that goes from the relay box to the starter itself, and if I pull on it (pulling on the starter terminal side) while pressing the START button, the starter turns and the engine starts and runs fine.

I thought it might be a bad cable, so I replaced the red cable that goes to the starter, and no change.

Any suggestions? This feels like an electrical problem, but could it be a starter problem? Not sure what pulling on the cable is doing, but it seems to work every time.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mikidymac]

Sounds like you need to tighten the positive post on the starter if you have already replaced the cable and checked the connections.

 

[Bigfoot100]

Yep, I did that. If I tighten any more, I'm afraid I might damage something. It's certainly tighter at the starter end than it is at the relay box end.