Topic: Electrical issue

[rrenz]

since last October I've been starting the car about once a month. a handful of times I've noticed a little smoke coming from the engine compartment. The battery cables have also gotten extremely hot if it takes a few attempts to get going. I have a reproduction solenoid. Im thinking that possibly its beginning to fail?

[midlife]

Your starter cable (or battery cables) is probably on the way out; it is probably exhibiting high resistance which means lots more current is needed to go through it (and thus the wires get hot).  You allude to the fact that you need to crank it a couple of times to get it going...it all makes sense.  I'd start with the starter cable and go from there.

[DKutz]

starter could also be going bad.

[rrenz]

I had considered both. The starter, solenoid and cables were all replaced at the same time about 3 years ago. the starter I've had issues with since day one as it doesn't seem to retract fast enough and will occasionally do some grinding. perhaps ill start... with a starter

[DKutz]

I had issues with my car starting then a friend noticed my cables were cooking!  I took the starter in for a rebuild and all is good now.