Starter clicks then nothing...

[Ashton84W]

So I haven't driven my truck in a few weeks due to no insurance and I wanted to give it a little drive today. I go to start it and wham, nothing. I have power when I turn the key but when I actually turn the key over to start the truck, I hear a click from the starter and then all power shuts off. I have no power to anything whatsoever. Now when I changed out the water pump about a month or two ago, I was an idiot and not to mention inexperienced, but I had set my wrench down on the battery and it connected with the battery terminals. Sparks flew and it actually welded onto the terminals. Once I kicked it off and hooked everything back up it did what its doing now (click and no power). I had simply unhooked the battery for a few and hooked it back up. It started! It's done this once or twice again since but this time no matter how many times I disconnect the battery, it will not turn over and start. I'm thinking I might have blown a fuse maybe? or did the battery get shot? I don't know. All my knowledge comes from YouTube and you guys so any help is greatly needed and appreciated. Suggestions are welcome!

 

[1973c10]

So I haven't driven my truck in a few weeks due to no insurance and I wanted to give it a little drive today. I go to start it and wham, nothing. I have power when I turn the key but when I actually turn the key over to start the truck, I hear a click from the starter and then all power shuts off. I have no power to anything whatsoever. Now when I changed out the water pump about a month or two ago, I was an idiot and not to mention inexperienced, but I had set my wrench down on the battery and it connected with the battery terminals. Sparks flew and it actually welded onto the terminals. Once I kicked it off and hooked everything back up it did what its doing now (click and no power). I had simply unhooked the battery for a few and hooked it back up. It started! It's done this once or twice again since but this time no matter how many times I disconnect the battery, it will not turn over and start. I'm thinking I might have blown a fuse maybe? or did the battery get shot? I don't know. All my knowledge comes from YouTube and you guys so any help is greatly needed and appreciated. Suggestions are welcome!

Do you have a battery charger make sure you battery is fully charged
Check your battery cables and battery cable ends
Make sure you have a good ground
you said it started after you changed the water pump
did you take the ground cable off and put it back on when changed
the water pump
if so make sure it has a good ground where it was hooked backup

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

I'm guessing it's top post. I'd first make sure the posts and connectors are clean and mostly undamaged. I (hurriedly and accidentally) reversely polarized one of the batteries in my dad's '96 Ford F-350, and it shot sparks and molten lead at me. It damaged a post pretty good, but the battery is still fine. I think you just need to check all your wires. Make sure the battery ground is good. Follow the starter hot wire coming from the battery and going to the solenoid. Check for any partial burns in there that may be causing some kind of undervolt condition. I've had things partially burn or pop before so I don't ever assume anymore that it can either work or not work. A multimeter would be nice to see what kind of voltage your battery has as it sits relative to what the solenoid is getting. Just be careful not to bridge anything with tools or yourself while you're down there. That's how we start our Ford tractor when the ignition cylinder goes bad, and it's quite startling with the noise and sparks and what not. Check your ground that spans the rear of the PS cylinder head and the firewall. You need to have at least 12.4 volts in that battery for it to be competent. Anything less and it needs to go on a charger or be replaced. Finally, it may just be your starter going out if all else fails. You can try hitting the body of the starter with a hammer and starting it. I've used that trick on the same tractor many times and my Caprice just last night to get it up on ramps to swap out the starter that has a bad solenoid. You can always get a remote starter pretty cheap and test the starter directly with it if you get to that point. Just to disclaim, I'm not really a Ford person, just GM. My dad is a dual Ford and GM person so we have Ford stuff, which I have to say has treated us well for many years.

 

[Ashton84W]

Do you have a battery charger make sure you battery is fully charged
Check your battery cables and battery cable ends
Make sure you have a good ground
you said it started after you changed the water pump
did you take the ground cable off and put it back on when changed
the water pump
if so make sure it has a good ground where it was hooked backup

I never touched the ground(s) on the battery when I did the water pump and they are still good.

 

[Georgeb]

Do you have a ground cable going to the alternator bracket.

 

[Ashton84W]

I'm guessing it's top post. I'd first make sure the posts and connectors are clean and mostly undamaged. I (hurriedly and accidentally) reversely polarized one of the batteries in my dad's '96 Ford F-350, and it shot sparks and molten lead at me. It damaged a post pretty good, but the battery is still fine. I think you just need to check all your wires. Make sure the battery ground is good. Follow the starter hot wire coming from the battery and going to the solenoid. Check for any partial burns in there that may be causing some kind of undervolt condition. I've had things partially burn or pop before so I don't ever assume anymore that it can either work or not work. A multimeter would be nice to see what kind of voltage your battery has as it sits relative to what the solenoid is getting. Just be careful not to bridge anything with tools or yourself while you're down there. That's how we start our Ford tractor when the ignition cylinder goes bad, and it's quite startling with the noise and sparks and what not. Check your ground that spans the rear of the PS cylinder head and the firewall. You need to have at least 12.4 volts in that battery for it to be competent. Anything less and it needs to go on a charger or be replaced. Finally, it may just be your starter going out if all else fails. You can try hitting the body of the starter with a hammer and starting it. I've used that trick on the same tractor many times and my Caprice just last night to get it up on ramps to swap out the starter that has a bad solenoid. You can always get a remote starter pretty cheap and test the starter directly with it if you get to that point. Just to disclaim, I'm not really a Ford person, just GM. My dad is a dual Ford and GM person so we have Ford stuff, which I have to say has treated us well for many years.

Yeah, when I bridged the battery with the socket wrench, sparks flew and it welded onto the terminal posts but luckily it wasn't bad. I was looking at the starter and nothing looks burnt although there is this. Looks and feels more dry rotted than burnt though. I also followed the hot wire and I can't find any burns or splices in the wire or anything!!! And I did a multimeter test and it came out good at 12.63V. And like I said, nothing looks burnt or melted. I'm lost. I'll see if I can get a video of what I'm hearing/what is happening for y'all.

 

[Ashton84W]

Do you have a ground cable going to the alternator bracket.

So I don't have a ground from the alternator bracket because somewhere along the way it was cut. I do have two grounds connected to the the fenderwell from the negative post that are someway related to the speakers within the truck. I was told these would work as grounds or am I mistaken?

 

[Ashton84W]

And as I'm thinking about it, I was told by one who is more mechanically inclined than I (Uncle) that this could be related to the ignition relay??? I've tried looking it up but I have no clue how to test/check it or even where it's at. Any help there??? I've also been told it could be the ignition switch although I don't think so. Any truth to either of them? Thanks for the input y'all!

 

[ScottyB]

In my experience, a single click is usually the starter. A weak battery would give you a rapid clicking as there is not enough amperage to hold the solenoid closed. I suppose it could be the starter relay, but I haven't seen them fail that way before. YMMV

 

[87scotty]

Usually starter pull it take it to parts sttore tell em to test it and get a new one!

 

[87scotty]

Or pull it put it in a vice and jump it with a bat charger

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Where does your ground wire connect from the battery?

 

[74 Shortbed]

A clicking sound is usually not enough power to fully engage the solenoid..

 

[BiggG74]

Just my 2 cents here. But wouldn't a bad ground cause a dragging sound?


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[74 Shortbed]

It can depends on how much power there is, couple clicks and nothing means next to no power at all.