I searched and read quite a bit, but i couldnt find out the test with the headlights. Last night i tried to turn it over with the lights on and they dimmed. New battery,

new positive and negative cables.

I read that if the lights dimmed, it was a problem before the start. i wasnt looking forward to changing it out.

 

If your headlights dim with a new good battery and new battery cables and the cables are getting very hot very fast then you either have a bad starter or the engine is very hard to turn.

 

Starter is good, i had it checked this morning. I looked and could not find the fusible links, i was told to check all of those. Its a 89 f150 4.9 with 75k on it.. what do check next. i have double checked all grounds from battery to block, block to frame and back again. I have tried three different starter relays. Tried jumping across the relay as well

 

Do you mean going across the terminals with a screwdriver?

Dimming headlights when starting usually indicate a bad battery. Since the soleniod clicks, maybe something in the mechanism is hung up.

 

i have read thru almost 30 pages of info on here but keep reading the same things. i need to find my meter. the battery is brand new but i didnt even think about that its probably been sitting for a year.

Yes i tried across with the screw driver, it started to weld its self to the post. Not sure if that means anything or not. When i turn the key and it clicks the lights dim. hopefully its a bad battery

 

The cause is a bit over my head, but the effect is most definitely not good.

 

My money is on the battery. test it, charge it and let us know.
I did get a click from a bad connection on one of the starter wires at the starter, cleaned and crimped it and it's good now.....but I think yours is the battery.

Good Luck
Bob

 

Put a socket and a hinge wrench on the crank bolt and see if the engine turns free (not locked up).
If it turns OK change the starter.
Where did you get the starter?

 

the starter is stock, i had it tested at o rileys and i did the test my self the first time and it worked and also did it a few more times. it extendeds and spins

 

I used a set of jumper cables and jumped 6 to 7 with a positive, and took the negative side 2 to 7 on a bolt holding. so im guessing its either the starter cable or the ground cable.
Battery was load tested and good
But now i took off the jumper cables and it starts fine evey time?? im baffled i know it is probably only fixed for now but i dont want to get stuck some where from a wire i didnt fix.. thanks for the help to. on s10forum i have a huge post count so to come here and be a noob is different.

 

also the first test i ran was with only +start to +relay post. no start only a click. The second test i left the positive the same, and connected the -starter mounting bolt to -battery and it fired up. so would that mean my - cable is bad? i just went and bought a new one anyways but should i replace the starter cable as well?