Should I check the battery cables voltage with the key on or off? My cables look clean but I guess it's still a possibility

 

Should I check the battery voltage with the key on or off?

 

Key off. There's 12 volts running to the starter at all times. When you turn the key to crank, ground is provided to the starter relay(which also has 12 volts at all times), which then powers the starter solenoid, which provides ground to the starter.

With the key off you should have 12 volts on one of the large lugs and one of the small lugs on the starter relay(with out looking at it I can't say which is the power in terminal). With the key turned to crank, you should read 12 volts across both large lugs as those are the contacts. On the smaller lugs you should read 12 volts on one, and less on the other. That's coil that makes the contacts between the large lugs close.

Sorry if this is a little confusing. I'v never been good at breaking things down.

 

I jumped the two big lugs and all I hear is a clunking from the starter. So bad starter?

 

A good starter isn't cheap. So you want to remove all other possibilities. Prior to the failure, did it seem as though the starter got a little weaker with each start? I've also seen batteries that will measure 12 volts with a multimeter, but not turn a starter over. Have you had the batteries tested or tired to jump it?

 

Never had batteries tested. Just had starter tested and it's good guy there said could b ignition switch so I just bought one while I was at the parts store. $20 so not to bad. When I jumped the solenoid I forgot to turn the key to one so I'm going to try that when I get home an see what that gets me.

 

Figured it out. New starter and she's back and running

 

glad to hear it

 

I have the same code but my truck will crank but no start 😔