My truck wont start at all, no starter crank, no solenoid click, nothing. I tried taking the exciter wire off and jumping it from the positive terminal on the solenoid, it clicked and the motor turned a little then stopped and the solenoid just clicked. Sometimes i would just get clicking and the starter motor turning with no engine crank. Nothing engages when the key is turned. All lights on the dash come on, and dim when the key is turned to start but i get no action from any of the starting components. Anyone have any ideas?

 

Got a voltage tester? You need to check the voltage of the battery both static and during and attempt to start.

That the dash lights dim when you try means voltage is dropping during an attempt to start. This very likely indicates that the solenoid is engaging you just aren't hearing it.

That it made an attempt then clicked when jumped indicates that the starter is drawing enough that the battery can't maintain enough voltage to keep the solenoid engaged.

Best guess, dead battery.

If you can get a jump start do that, and check running voltage to see if it's a charging problem before replacing the battery.

 

I hooked it up to a battery charger and cranked it to 50 amps and still nothing. Lights still dimmed but no click and no crank. I then charged my battery, tried it again and still have nada

 

Then check voltage along the route, the solenoid terminals for example, could be a bad cable. Is the cable getting hot?

 

Could be a bad solenoid or starter. Use a jumper wire (booster cable) go from the positive on the battery to the starter side of the solenoid. if it is the solenoid it will turn over fine, if it is the starter you won't see a change. Then get the starter looked at by a re-builder, they can bench test them and maybe fix it for cheap.

 

If it starts it could also indicate a bad cable between the battery and solenoid not confirm that it's the solenoid.

 

My 89 f250 is doing the same stuff but the battery is also being drained is yours being drained too? I can't figure out what it is. I've changed the alternator ,battery and battery cables drove it for 2 weeks this weekend it's dead.