For anyone who went to the last NSW meet/photoshoot you would know that my car now has an issue starting.
I was planning to do an oil change as i have some good stuff lying around. This isnt happening all the time. Some times it starts perfectly, others it just ticks and ticks and ticks and doesnt turn on... Is this just an oil change problem or is it a starter motor issue? Also, not sure if this is related, recently i went to the shops and the starter motor wouldnt even tick, i opened the bonnet and gave the battery negative a wiggle and then it started ok.
Any help would be much appreciated!

Have you tried bashing the starter with a stick? Next time try that when you have a problem starting

Your oil has NOTHING to do with the car starting.

Are your battery terminals clean?
Sand them down with emery, file out the insides of the battery terminals with a file, and when you re-connect them make sure it is TIGHT. after 15 odd years the connections take a beating.

Does it just "click" sometimes? is this the tick you refer to? That's the solenoid clicking in. Could be the starter is gone but start with good clean connections. Means there could be severe voltage drop in the system. Rectify the smaller issues first before changing the starter.

What about the relays in the fuse box, don't they tick when activating/deactivating? Maybe one of them needs replacing?

the solenoid clicking means its getting activation power. so its clicking but not cranking, yeah with tuffy on that one. whats the condition of your battery?

What about the relays in the fuse box, don't they tick when activating/deactivating? Maybe one of them needs replacing?

99% sure there is no starter relay in a 2nd gen. Not that I've seen/had to deal with

To the op. Starter will be the culprit as same happened to me not too long ago. As mentioned the click is the starter solenoid engaging. As Tuffy has said there is no relay on the starter solenoid from manufacturer only would be one if fitted by a previous owner. I have always fitted one to all my vehicles as it lessens the current draw through the wiring harness and can assist by giving less voltage drop to the solenoid. Also as Tuffy stated tightness and cleanliness of battery terminals is important to allow full cranking current from battery to starter. Give it a clout with a hammer or block of wood if it then starts you can be almost 100% certain that your starter is kaput.

ok thanks guys will try all those little fixes see how it goes!

Aww, don't clout the battery terminal with a hammer! (or did he mean clout the starter with a hammer? Pretty impossible on the 2.6, easy on the V6) Don't want to destroy the battery do we? Just clean the terminals. If you have no luck, get a piece of wire, take the small connector off the starter motor solenoid, and connect the solenoid terminal to the positive of your battery. Ignition off, neutral, handbrake on. Just pulse it, you should hear the solenoid thump in. Hold the wire on longer and the motor should turn over. If not, your starter motor or battery is stuffed.
Try a new battery and repeat. If no joy, replace the starter, which is a poo-poo of a job on a 2.6! A bit fiddly testing it like this with the starter motor where it is on a 2.6, but do-able. Dead easy on the V6 though!

I have the 3.0L V6 just for future reference :) will try giving it a clean tomorrow and double checking everything is connected properly!

Yep, I know. I have both, I was just comparing the same job on the two different engines, a world of difference in difficulty. Removing the starter on the V6 is a 10 minute job, 2 hours plus on the 2.6 - opposite story for the alternators though.

How's the paint job holding out? Tried cleaning/polishing materials on it yet?

too bad i just sold my spare engine brian!