This isn't the first ER27 I've had do this. Never seen an EJ do it - just coincidence?

New battery. Starter replaced in one years ago with no change.

Car starts every time just always that quick pause - it's so brief my wife probably wouldn't think about it.

 

I replaced the starter in an earlier one I used to own and no change.

 

Starter?

Starting cables?

Ignition?

 

89 XT6

Check draw from starter, load test battery? I think my XT6 did the same thing, i put a new starter in mine and fixed it.

I would first check all starter wiring connections for good clean contact, including battery cables.  Could also be solenoid contacts in starter are in need of replacement, if yours has those.

Geez Gary! What's with all the problems lately? lol You could have bad or weak contacts inside the ignition switch. I've replaced a few over the years on different brands of cars exhibiting this same symptom. Piggyback a test lamp onto the solenoid control circuit and watch it when you crank it to see if it dims or blinks momentarily.

car is new to me so i'm chasing some existing issues, never seen an EJ do that "stop" thing like this - maybe just coincidence or age.

I know the Ea82s were somewhat notorious for drawing too much power through the ignition switch connector in the column. My loyale did this for years, sometimes for much longer. Eventually it wouldn't start sometimes unless you pushed on the column trim....I finally pulled it apart, and bypassed that connector for that wire with a pair of nice spade terminals.

 

 

I don't think I've ever heard of an XT doing it though...but it might be worth looking into.