I did get the mosquito catcher going again. A couple of hours of dismantling and cleaning and it's running. I can only assume that somehow all the baked-on bugs were causing the problem.
It's not 100%. The control buttons are largely useless, but it's running.
Then there's the car. Two days of waiting for towing, innumerable attempts to start, jacking it up to see if I could get at the starter, doing some under-engine cleaning, many hours of fussing …
I was convinced that if I could just bang on the starter a bit that it might free up, based on my research. That research also produced the correct location of the starter, under the intake manifold, a real PITA. Impossible to see from above or below, much to be removed to access, likely parts to be replaced when disturbed (eg gasket), not rocket science but a pain.
From above, removing a piece of motor trim which is itself is almost impossible, I discovered that the manifold was packed with mouse bedding. Poking, vacuuming, washing and most of that was cleaned out.
Called the tow truck again and he was going to leave in 1/2 hour. Great. More fussing and testing and it turned over !!! but was running really sickly and needed foot on gas or would stall. I ran down to the house and called the tow truck before they left.
The engine gradually smoothed out and with more battery swapping I got it running well. Yesterday I went into Sudbury and picked up a new battery.
Clearly it wasn't a one issue problem. The battery was near-toast, yes, but even with boost from the X5 the starter wouldn't engage. The mouse crap had to have something to do with it.
David called. Starlink ready to ship. Now things are really looking up. With cell service and fast internet, this place will have moved into this decade.
Watch this space.
-- From my iwdt
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