Hello Greg,

I have a '95 Trooper and have had both of these issues.

Issue 1 - My trooper eats starters about every 60,000 miles. First
indication I get is slow rollover. It starts, but the starter does not
turn the engine like it should - like a low battery. Then it is the
occasional click only - It may be the selenoid, but since one must drop
the exhaust, I replace the starter as I don't want to do this again -
for awhile.

Issue 2 - Rear brake light fuse (15 amp) goes and you get those
dashboard lights. On my trooper, it also controls power to Auto Trans
Controller - don't ask...

Mike

1) Definitely the starter.  Definitely a pain in the rear to replace as to do it correctly the exhaust has to be removed from
the manifold in order to get the old starter out / new starter in.

    1b) IF you're daring and you have a small cutting wheel, you can cut the flange off of the old / new starter which is
what is preventing the dang thing from coming out / going in.

2) Common and known problem.  Hits a 96 Rodeo also.  No idea what causes it, no idea how to cure it.  Aggravating but I'm
finally learning to just ignore it.   BTW on mine, it's somewhat intermittent.  I'll be driving and they'll come on.  Once
they do that it's usually on for the rest of the day.  By the next morning they're both off again.   If it's a hot morning
(like in the 80's) they'll stay on even between the engine stop yesterday and the start today.

Good luck
Phil

1) It could be a poor battery connection and the starter just isn't getting
enough current to crank.  Before spending money on a new starter, I would
clean both ends of battery cables with

I have an old Corolla that the starter solenoid started to go on.  Same
symptoms you describe.  Hitting it with a hammer helped for awhile.
That car had a disabled clutch safety switch.  I started it in gear
while pumping the brakes hard a few times and I never had a problem
since.  Now that's precision mechanics.

Remove starter and solenoid. Disassemble solenoid and take it apart to where
you can see the copper disk and where it makes contact with the two copper
contacts inside, connecting the 12 volt hot battery lead to the starter
windings. If this is all eaten up, replace it or fix it - I used a piece of
copper from some water pipe and it lasted forever.
While you're in there, look at the starter brushes and bearings - if they
are worn out, you can replace them or the whole starter if you want.
But your problem is your solenoid just is worn out.
r/
Steve