Yesterday, I fixed my oil pan gasket leak. So I took it to the car wash and degreased it and power washed the oil pan and motor.
When I went to start it, it did nothing the first couple of times, then it started. Figured it just was wet.
Last night I go to start it and click, click click, hear the relay but no starter. So I check connections, on battery, relay and starter. Cable was a little loose on battery and on starter. Tighten them up and vroom-starts right up. Shut it off and click click click again, just relay-no starter. Figure maybe battery. so I try jump starting, still no start just click, click of relay!
Do you think it may be my starter? It looks like the original one.

Any help would be appreciated.

Shiny

 

If you're sure the battery is fully charged, it could be the starter or the cables. Battery cables can corrode inside but still look OK on the outside. Most parts stores will test starters for free.

I would:
1. Make sure battery is fully charged and charging system is working correctly.
2. Make sure you do have 12+ volts coming off the starter side of the solenoid/relay when you are trying to crank it over.
3. Take the starter in to get tested.
4. When you are at the store, buy new battery cables. Get the largest gauge you can. Bigger wire means better current carrying capability.

 

What engine do you have? The 4.9L starter has no solenoid - it uses only the relay on the fender. The V-8s use a GM-type starter with a solenoid attached to the top to push the bendix into the flywheel, and there's a second relay built into the back of the solenoid. If bypassing both relays doesn't engage the starter, then the starter motor is bad.

 

Thanks for the replies,
I got her up and running today! First I checked the battery and it was good, than I jumped the relay to starter, nothing. So I took the starter to Autozone to have it checked out. It worked but sounded like crap. Gears sounded messed up.
Picked up a new starter, relay and cables.
Installed them on my ice covered truck( Icestorm hit last night, some people without power from Friday 8PM till now) . Fired right up! Sweet!

Thanks again,
Shiny

 

on my 93 f-150 5.0,after having the oil pump replaced it wouldnt start,just click.it turned out to be a lil wire on the starter.after it was replaced it starts fine.i guess somehow when the engine was lifted it damaged it ,i duno,but it had never done that b4.or maybe something bumped it while messing with the oil pan.

 

I wish you had said that it was cold where you were. Let me offe the following. I have a 94 E 150 with the 5.0. In Febuary we had thaw one day with Snow and slush and then a hard freeze the next. My wife pulled the van in drive way and parked it over night. I went out the next morning and the van she no starty. I could hear the starter spin and not engage. I thought theres the bendix I need a new starter. I pulled it and then had a few hours as my wife was at work and wouldn't be back till lunch. I hate core charges. So I play around a little and it turns out that it was just frozen. Apparenly this is called a plunge starter and the ice that had got inside wouldn't let it plunge. I sprayed it with almost a whole can of electrical cleaner and then I let it sit by the furnance for a couple of hours. Voila. Kinda like a Penthouse letter. I never thought it could happen to me. To see how the starter works look in the back of the Chilton's manual under domestic starters.