Dodge Repair: 2002 Dodge Intrepid wont start/turn over, discount auto parts, discount auto parts stores

Question
I am helping a friend with a 2002 Dodge Intrepid. It has an
intermittent problem. When he turns the key nothing happens,
sometime waiting 5 minutes would then allow it to start. After
living with it for many months we found that if he holds the key
on it will start after between 30 seconds to a minute (won't turn
over at all until then). As time goes on the time it takes to start
is getting longer and longer and now he may have to hold the
key on for 10-15 minutes.

I have checked the battery, relays & fuses. He claims that
sometimes hitting the column will help the time. He pulled out
the ignition switch to see if any wires were loose and found that
after trying to start it the wire harness going to the switch was
fairly hot.

I am going to attempt to get to the starter (can't se it from the
top) and test to see if I am getting voltage to it when he holds
the key.

I am wondering if the computer might have any control over the
starter. Or if it might be the ignition switch or starter. He has
very little money so we can't just replace things for testing.

Any ideas?

Answer
To start with you are right, never replace parts just to see if that's the problem.  If the ignition wire causes the power lead to get hot then you probably have a bad starter winding or brushes.  Pull the starter off remove the but end and see if the brushes are worn out.  ir they are replace the brushes.  If they aren't take it to a discount auto parts store they will check the current draw and tell you if there is a problem with the starter, this is a FREE service from all discount auto parts stores.

Cowboy ll04