ok, friends car wouldnt start ('95 taurus) so, dissconnect the battery feed to the starter solenoid and touch it to the feed going to the actual starter. (before, when we turned the key, we would get a click, but no other noise) and when the solenoid bypass is done, the starter makes a whirling sound. and, when i had my friend turn the key to start it, than it seemed to actually try to start.
am i correct in thinking that it is, in fact, the starter solenoid, and not the starter, that needs to be replaced? what tests can i go to make sure the starter is not trying to pull too much juice? (because, there like a $100 differance between a solenoid and a starter with a solenoid)

 

Sound like soleniod, is the cheap way out,, hope