Could a solenoid be bad but the starter still test good?

Rare at best, since the solenoid has to work in order to test the starter.

What are you really asking? Start at the beginning.

All the solenoid does is stick the starter gear out so it contacts the flywheel. How are you testing it?

the deal is I can't get the car to start, it was fine in the morning, started it came back out nothing,
i've tried jumping it, checked the wires, changed the ignition switch, even pulled off the starter and had it tested, and was told it was still good, a friend of mine suggested that maybe it was a faulty solenoid but that didn't make any sense since i figgered that if the starter came back good the solenoid would be as well.

what happens is, when i turn the key i get nothing but that little buzzing that it makes when you turn the key to the on position, doesnt even try to crank, and i'm not sure what it could be... any suggestions/ ideas??

Bad connection at the battery, bad battery cable, bad battery

Bad solenoid... Or heat problems. Does your engine get hot to the point where you have to wait for it to cool down (sometimes as long as 2 hours)
I find it very annoying. Summit has a remote solenoid kit that can be used to keep it from overheating or a heat blanket wrapped around the starter. I have that problem right now.
I may need a new radiator. One that can handle the engine I have now. I find it very frustrating.

no, It's not heat related, it's never done it before, all of a sudden after one crank it wouldn't crank again, it's been two weeks and a buttload of trying to figure out what it could be, and still no clue, i've checked the cables already and they look good, still nothing.

You can replace the solenoid alone for cheap. I think it's around 20 bucks.

when i was helping my friend w/ his car not starting we first took the starter to pep boys to get it tested and it worked. so we were stumped. while putting the wires back on we broke a stud on the solenoid so we ended up having to replace that. car then started up w/ no problems.

Here's a thought for ya.
My starter works.
I changed the oil pan and put the starter back in.
Now the starter doesn't work.
I pull the starter again (bench testing in my driveway) now it sorta works and then after banging on it with a hammer it works great.
So I put it back in and it doesn't work. I get out the BFH and no matter what it won't crank.
I ended up replacing the starter.

Moral: Just cause it works outside the car doesn't mean it's always gonna work in the car.

Philosophical mode off

so it could still be the flaming stinking starter????
i had a sneaky suspicion, after replacing the battery cables, charging the battery and changing the ignition switch,, that damnable starter....

Does the Security light comes on?

If it doesn't there is something wrong with you VAT or the chip in your key....

which is the security light?

after checking that all the connections are good see if you are able to jumpstart the car. if you are then i would replace the solenoid, if you can't jumpstart it's gotta be the starter. this is all assuming the battery is good and is fully charged. also check your fusbile links maybe one is fried

Lots of starters test good when you try to spin them on a bench, but they aren't being load tested, so you can't expect them to fail as easily. Your starter will only fail a bench test if it's really dead or starts smoking/catches on fire(I had one do this a couple years ago on the tester).

I did initially try to jumpstart it but that didn't do anything, at this point, i'm groing continually convinced that the starter is bad, where other than the positive battery cable would fusible links be found?

Well, if the battery is shorted out you can't jump start a car. Try a battery that you know is good.

Auggie

So the battery would still hold a charge aeven if it's shorted out??

It is located on the Tach meter. It will come on when you turn the key it will say "Security". if it does not come one there is something wrong with the VAT or the chip on your key. Or one of the two wires that goes to the Ignition cylinder is cut or loose. Let me know if this is the case because it has happened to me and I was able to solve it by cutting the two wires and taping them directly to chip on the key...