Please Help, No Start issues

[MDrive]

Been having hot start issues (86 Carrerra, 3.2L) and pretty much decided it is not the battery or ignition switch. Suspecting the starter motor/solenoid so I did some voltage checks last night.

Ok, here is some data I gathered last night. Any starter system guru thoughts?

Voltage (ignition switch "off")
1. Voltage b/w battery terminals: 12.57
2. Voltage b/w input from battery on solenoid and ground strap (GS): 12.57

3. Voltage b/w input from battery on sol. and yellow signal wire on solenoid (wire from ignition switch): 12.57
4. Voltage b/w input from battery on sol. and "pigtail" (braided copper wire extending from body of starter motor to solenoid): 12.57

5. Voltage b/w yellow signal wire and GS: 0.0
6. Voltage b/w "pigtail" and GS: 0.0
7. Voltage b/w yellow signal wire and "pigtail": 0.0

Voltage (ignition switch "on", by the way, thanks to whomever suggest the vice grips on the key with string to activate the switch!) First voltage is before I trigger the key, the voltage afterward follows the arrow.

1. Voltage b/w battery terminals: 12.57 --> 12.19 (dropped substantially, I know)
2. Voltage b/w input from battery on solenoid and ground strap (GS): 12.57-->12.19

3. Voltage b/w input from battery on sol. and yellow signal wire on solenoid (wire from ignition switch): 12.57-->2.05
4. Voltage b/w input from battery on sol. and "pigtail" (braided copper wire extending from body of starter motor to solenoid): 12.19-->11.62

5. Voltage b/w yellow signal wire and GS: 0.0-->10.16
6. Voltage b/w "pigtail" and GS: 0.0-->0.484
7. Voltage b/w yellow signal wire and "pigtail": 0.0-->9.8

Let me see if I can make that easier to read:

Before (off) After (on)
1. 12.57 12.57-->12.19
2. 12.57 12.57-->12.19
3. 12.57 12.57--> 2.05
4. 12.57 12.57--> 11.62
5. 0.0 0.0--> 10.16
6. 0.0 0.0--> 0.484
7. 0.0 0.0--> 9.8

Additional information:
When I turned the ingition key, I heard the solenoid click and when I would relax the key, I could hear the solenoid release.

Ran out of time beyond this, so the only thing I have determined from this is that it is most likely not the ignition switch (pulled the connector behind the dash and it looks fine (nice and clean).

I will compare these values to a Tech Article I saw based on some hot start issues.

Any thoughts from those steeped in starting system knowledge?

[Tim Polzin]

If I read your voltages right, you are not getting any power to the braid between the solenoid and the starter when the ignition switch is turned to start.

I had a similar problem on my 86. Turned out to be a poor join between the battery cable and the solenoid at the location where the battery cable bolted to the solenoid. If not that connection, it must be the solenoid.
Tim