2001 STS 96K
My starter has an intermittent one click and ....nothing. This is what I have checked so far. Codes none. Load tested 2 year old battery-OK. Generator charging @ 14.5 V.Battery cables good-connections clean and tight. Parasitic voltage drain is 28Ma. Swapped out starter relay with known good one. It will sometimes take 5-10 turns of the key for the starter to finally fire up with a one click and nothing between each attempt. No slight fade in the headlights when she one clicks,only when the starter motor finally engages. I think my solenoid is beginning to crap out-starter motor contacts or coil. Have I missed anything before I tear into it tomorrow morning????

If it was my car, I would double check the "PassKey 3" (PK3) system. Can you try a different key?

You stated "Parasitic voltage drain is 28Ma". There is a major conflict of terms here. And if you metered the "drain", you would have to know what I am talking about.

More information is needed.

Tried both sets of keys over the last week-same result. I had my VOM in series with my negative battery cable set on mA. I leaned over the front seat and checked the battery drain with all doors closed and keys on the seat. I waited out the power retention relay and after that dropped out I read a steady load of 28 mA. I checked again this morning and it was at 29mA. Isn't 28mA in the ballpark for the alarm and driver settings and stuff.Why would the starter solenoid click everytime if there was a passkey problem ??. What more info do you need ??

Sounds like exact symptoms as my 01.
When the starter motor was replaced all was good.

This is what I went through : http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-seville-cadillac-eldorado-forum/129288-intermitent-starting-problem-01-sts.html

But like said. No issue since the starter motor was replaced.

Thanks for the info Murphyg. Im leaning towards a starter solenoid and unfortunately for my wallet it comes with a starter motor. I think I should have put Milliamps instead of my wrong abbreviation (Ma) in my original post. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Mine was starter "Motor".
Is starter "Solenoid" the same thing ??? Same area ???

Apparently was hard to get to. Exhaust manifold had to come off to get to it ?

The starter solenoid is mounted on top of the starter motor. My STS's starter is under the intake manifold in the "Valley of the V". Not too bad to get but being where it is you can't whack the starter with a hammer or jump out the solenoid with a heavy screwdriver.

20-30 mA is normal for parasitic drain. Hard to find a solenoid without motor on the rebuilt market. Might find solenoid only at NAPA or dedicated parts house. BUT, about the time the solenoid contact plate gets eroded enough to cause problems, the armature brushes in the motor are toast also. Might as well do the whole thing.

Check your battery cables.

Thanks- Ranger, the battery cables are clean at the backseat,the front fuse block and at the starter. Sub-I'm putting in a new AC/Delco that comes with a new solenoid.While I have the manifold off I'm going to clean it along with the throttle body and injectors.

It's in and she fired up the first time. Took me 2.5 hrs with the cleaning. Not a hard job at all and definintely a DIY'er. I'd rather do this type of starter than the typical ones on the exterior of the motor (exhaust manifold removal or no room to swing a wrench on a nut covered in PB Blaster).

Dealer did mine. Extended warranty.
I believe they paid the dealer for 3 hours labor.
Which is the funny thing..............

GM Warranty says it takes 3 hours......
But if you dont have warranty......The GM book charge is for more. Think its 5 hours.

Never understood how they can do that. If GM says it takes 3 hours then it takes 3 hours.
The time on a job shouldnt change depending on whom is paying for it !!