Strange starter failure

[Kudzupatch]

Maybe this is not uncommon but in all my years I have never seen it. Noticed for a couple of weeks or more that my Suburban was sometimes turning over slower than it should but always started. I really thought it was the battery going but knew the starter could the the issue too. Was going to have the batter checked this week.

Yesterday after Church we stopped on the way home for lunch. Came out the solenoid clicked but it didn't turn over. Checked the battery connection and the ground was just loose enough I could move it, it cranked. OK, loose connection. I will clean it when I get home. Parked in the driveway, changed clothes and tried to start it to take it to the shop. Click and nothing.

Pull the starter off today and to my surprise the two screws that hold the end cap on the solenoid, one is missing, and other is so loose I pulled it out without unscrewing it. It was just hanging in place. Solenoid was working but the contacts couldn't touch, no no power to the starter. Never seen that before.

Since the contacts were a little burned I went ahead and replaced it, but I think I could have just replaced the missing screw and been on my way.