92' Volkswagen Cabriolet will not start

Ummm, battery itself perhaps? 11.6 volts is low in my opinion for a battery that has no real load on it, load tested or not.

I ran a wire direct from the positive on the battery to the ignition side of the starter. Solenoid would click just like turning the key. Beat starter with a hammer and started car with the 18 volt jumper. Car started as usual. Drove for a few miles, and shut car off. Car started repeatedly after that. Finally gave it back to my kid. Will see how long it goes before dying on her. It's the original starter that I brought to a rebuild shop. I think they only put on a new solenoid and nothing else. Problem is probably in the starter motor itself. I don't think they rebuilt that part.

Just buy a new starter motor then, they don't cost an arm and a leg. Personally I never have anything rebuilt without knowing what is getting replaced/overhauled and what sort of guarantee I'm getting on the rebuilt item.

If you fin it isn't the starter, have someone check the ignition switch in the steering wheel. Mine would start sometimes and others not at all,Did the new battery and starter and I still had problems. IE.. nothing would happen when I turned the key.

Debian, the strange thing is, if I put an 18 volt engine starter on the battery it will start every time. Never has it failed. So I don't think the ignition is the problem. I think I will have to get another starter. I had the original rebuilt, and I think they only replaced the solenoid.