After pulling the engine in my 2012 500 for clutch and pressure plate, upon reinstall the starter won't crank. Behaved like a solenoid. I swapped it out and same problem. When I held the key in start mode it would crank after 10 or so seconds and only after something under the hood made a mechanical sound.

Best I can figure, the car won't crank without some prior mechanical need being met. Once it's been running, the period of wait is as short as 3 secs. What gives. Does it need vacuum. It's not the fuel pump. HELP
Doug
2012 Fiat 500 #311
2014 500L
1972 124 Special

Hi

Rule out a bad main earth cable 1st

Wrestling it around could have splintered the internals.. they are a common failure point