Before I put all the air cleaner stuff back, I wanted to give the cranking a try. This is after confirming with a test light that there was voltage when the key was turned, to the solenoid lead.

With a fully charged battery, it cranked but slowly, as if the battery were dead.

Here's my question: I did not reinstall the battery, rather, I used jumper cables from the battery, and clamped on the battery leads of the car. Is it possible that sufficient current could not pass through this way?

I went and borrowed a jump starter (because the car was head in and positioned such that I couldn't get another vehicle close enough to jump), but I put everything back properly before jumping. It started right up.

Also, I noticed a defect on the NEW starter, for the 2nd time. The clip for the solenoid/ignition is NOT deep enough to accept the Nissan plug. Kinda ridiculous, I had to break off the side of the clip in order to see this--the original one from 2 1/2 mos. ago was already broken open. That indicates to me probably somebody returned this part, which is why it failed on me 2 1/2 mos. in.....well, that's what lifetime warranties are for!