OK so the other day I went to start my truck up. I pulled the headlight switch first and headlights came on. Then turned key to start and truck went braummm click then everything went black. No headlights, no interior lights, no dash lights, no radio, no ignition, nothing at all. Now the next day I walked to autozone and got a starter solenoid that mounts near the battery and walked back thinking that was it. When I got back I opened the door and the interior light came on. Rather than try and start it I figured I would change the starter solenoid. I changed it then nothing again no lights nothing. Had a friend bring me a test light last night and this morning I started messing around with it. Here are the results of the test light:
1. I clipped test light to negative and touched the positive terminal and bright light.
2. I left it clipped to negative and touched battery cable going to starter solenoid and bright light
3. Left clipped to negative and touched all other plugs and wires coming from the solenoid and bright lights everytime.
4. Left clipped to negative and touched the fender bolts and bright light
5. Clipped to the negative cable bolted to the block and ran the test light to the hot cable going to the starter and Bright light
6. I have an accessory fuse panel on the interior that I have and clipped it to the negative terminal on batter and reached as far as I could and stuck the pointed end of of test light into the wire and bright light but when I go to the inside of the truck I clip the negative to the metal steering column bracket and touch the other end of the hot cable for the accessory fuse box and [B]No Light[B]
7. I also tried with it clipped to different metal locations inside the cab of truck touching factory fuses in factory fuse box and again no light.
8. I also went to the driver side of the engine compartment and tried clipping to bolts and touching what should be hot wires and no light.
9. I clipped it back to the negative terminal on battery and touched the strap going from the engine to the body and have bright light.

Does anyone know what is going on or might be able to narrow down where I should check? I am at this point baffled by why it won't do anything? I am open to any ideas and will try anything that might work.

 

Pull your battery terminals and clean both the clamp and post. Also check your ground at the engine block.

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Forgot to add that it is an Optima Battery Gel Cell and I have checked all connections from battery and to the block.

 

Checked or cleaned? Just because a test light shows power doesn't mean that amps can get thru.... Clean connections and tight clamps can fix issues like what you described.

No disrespect but I have seen this many more times than once. The first time was in 1969 with a brand new Ford/Mercury Cyclone GT 428 CJ. Did just what you described; click click ....lights out. Lights on, turn key dead.... Less than 50 miles.

Tow truck driver came out cleaned the terminals and , yep, back on the road!

This might not be your issue but defiantly worth a try.

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I've also seen ground wires so green and rotted on the inside but look fine outside. Also check fusible links at the solenoid.

 

x2 on the fuse link.............

 

Old Style good call won't believe this. The ground cable to the block I had to move a 1/4 turn and everything worked? Crazy but I am good now!

 

Glad it worked out for you!
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Lesson learned....on DC circuits ALWAYS check the grounds FIRST!