hello, my 1980 2wd pickup just decided to not start anymore yesterday. I tried to jump it, but it didn't work. Volt test showed 12.5V on the battery. A friend gave me a push and she fired right off. I should have taken it home but I went back to work. Again it doesn't start, just one click like sound is heard when I turn the key. I pulled and replaced the started last nite ( bench test on old starter sounded terrible and also new starter bench tested good before I put it in. I turned on the headlites and there is no visible reduction in light when I turn the key. I traced my wires and they look good. What am I missing? Is it possibly the ignition switch? keep in mind its snowing here and I am trying to get this thing running and am working in a parking lot.

Thanks for any help.

 

Check the voltage at the starter and where the ground bolts to the engine. I've had issues with extremely minor amounts of corrosion causing a no start condition. A twist of the battery cables and it'd be fine for another couple weeks then do it again. I'm rewiring my entire starting system in the future to combat this.

 

Its possible the ignition switch might be acting up, when the key is turned to the start position it sends power to the starter and the coil to make engine start, when you let off the key to the run position the circuit swaps so power to the coil is coming from the run position circuit, if the power is broken to the coil in the crank position it wouldn't fire, thats why it starts when pushed but not cranking. Other than that, as WT suggested, checking and cleaning connections and grounds is a good starting point.

 

thanks for the help guys, I pulled the starter out again, replaced the battery cables and then noticed that the main ground wire to the engine was off. 2 hours of work lying in a snowdrift but she's purring like a kitten again!!