hey, so my truck at first when i turned the key nothing would happen. solenoid wouldnt click and starter wouldnt turn. then it went to the truck not getting power at all. so i replaced the solenoid with a new one and its the same thing. read and have been told it could be any number of things like the starter or a wiring problem, but i dont want ot go and start buying new parts that wont fix the problem. so i guess im asking where should i start checking?

 

When i had the same problem with my 87 I simply added a jumper from the positive battery post to the starter relay. No joy, it still would'nt start. Added the jumper between the negative battery post & engine block & then it fired right up. The negative cable was shot.

It's a quick and very simple way to test for a bad battery cable.

 

Have you checked the battery? It seems like a dumb question but that is where I would start every time. Funny crap happens when you're battery goes out

 

Ya battery has a full charfer

 

If you are not getting any power and you're sure the battery is good, clean the inside of the battery cables and the outside of the battery posts.

 

Not 100% but could be the ignition switch

 

Do your headlights work?

 

Ok so still no change.after i was able to get power back i tried it again and same thing.....i heard a click whn i went to staryot then i lost all power,solenoid osnt getting power amd power Windows or locks wont work,had the starte rtested at autozone and it passed i dont know what esle to do,headlights arnt working eithet

 

What you are describing is a classic case of dirty battery cable connections or possibly an internally shorted battery cable.

Start by cleaning the connections where the cables hook onto the battery posts and make sure they tighten properly. It doesn't matter if they have recently been off, they need to be clean and tight.

 

I cleaned up the battery cables and stuff already,in thinking there is a short somewhere cause when i turn the key to start i hear a tick and i loose all power

 

How old is the battery? Measure the voltage at the battery posts before and while headlights are turned on. A defective battery with no load on it can often measure OK. But, put any kind of a load on it and it will choke.

If you are certain that the battery is serviceable, then there is excessive resistance in the cable connections and grounds, most often from corrosion.

Do this: Replace all the cables and ground straps, they can't be cleaned at the crimp is why. Maybe $20 or $25, it pays to do this. Grind down past paint and grime to bright shiny metal at block, firewall and frame. Tighten securely. The solenoid too needs a good solid ground as well, the bracket connects through to the firewall and grounding.

 

If there is a short, it is likely inside one of the battery cables or a dirty connection at the other end of your ground cable.

I don't want to sound like a broken record, but it takes some effort to properly clean the connections where they hook onto the battery posts. Clean the inside of the cables as well as the outside of the battery posts.

 

Replacing the starter tonight to see if that is the issue,buddy said he had same issue and replacing the starter did it if thats not itbim gonna check the wires and probably just replace them

 

Your starter has nothing to do with your headlights. Do you have another vehicle you can swap batteries with and try starting it then? It sounds like a bad battery/connection 100%

 

If you took about 30 seconds to do each of these tests what did it do?

FYI what you're calling a solenoid is the starter relay.