The starter vibrates when starting. Can this be repaired or do I need to replace the starter itself?

 

Sometimes you can "fix" them.

Sounds like you need to pull it and I would then clean and re-lube the bendix. Do my own home test - battery gound to case of starter. Postive to the "big" lug. The another wire to the small terminal on the solenoid - briefly. The starter should spin and the bedix should "go out". If unsure, take it to a parts store after the clean lube and see what they say.

What was the voltage on the small wire?

 

New update-----------------------------------------

Swapped out the starter with a "good" one from the local "Pick n Pull". The hum and vibration of the starter went away. Now the only thing that occurs when attempting to start is hearing the soleniod click each time. I checked the voltage on the thin black wire (11.96) and the big wire from battery (12.12) and the soleniod output terminal for the starter (4.56).

I tried to connect the thin wire directly to the starter, but nothing happened.

What could be the issue, the soleniod? or the battery voltage too low for the starter signal?

 

I'm confused...there are two wires to the starter? Unless you are talking about the wire from the solenoid to the starter motor - connection.

Take a piece of wire from the pos (+) battery post to the spade terminal on the solenoid....what happens?

If you have the same click, touch that same jump wire to the "connector" going into the motor....the solenoid is a big relay. The ground is from the engine. When power is supplied to the small spade terminal the relay closes, sending battery voltage from the battery cable (big cable with the nut on it) to the motor - the connector you have between the solenoid and the actual start motor.

It is late, hope this makes sense....

Drag the battery to a parts store and have it tested/charged.

 

Ok Ty ..I connected a jumper wire from battery to spade on solenoid....click....

Jumper wire to starter motor...nothing except sparks and a burning hot wire.... The battery is only 2 months old.

 

Really sounds like the starter is bad......did you test it off the car?