problem starting

[mrboyy17]

hey everyone i need some help.  i went out to start my truck today and.....nothing.   didnt even click over.  battery is good and when i turn the key it sounds like a faint clicking noise inside but the starter doesn't try to turn over.  does this mean my starter solenoid is bad?  or maybe i need a new starter?  what i did is went down to autozone and put new battery cables on cuz the old ones were really shot.  cleaned the posts really good (the battery is only like 3 months old) put on some nice thick 2 gauge battery cables and......click click click.  its always started right up for me just fine.  im new to working on vehicles so sorry if this is a stupid question.  but any help would be appreciated.
mark

[VileZambonie]

Give the starter a few slaps with a hammer and see what happens

[mrboyy17]

where should i hit it?  on the bottom or by the cables ....just beat on it in general? is this common?  maybe i should be driving around my truck with a hammer iside?  LOL seriously is this really what i do?

[Layne]

Had my hammer in my sierra for about a month now. Just give her a lil tap on the starter.

[VileZambonie]

If it free's it up just replace it.

[Jim Rockford]

if its just clicking  you don't have enough juice to turn the starter over, Jump it and see how it does. Just cause a battery is new, doesn't mean it can't go bad.

[Irish_Alley]

the rapid clicking is usually from low volts or bad connection maybe one of the wires that was just put on the nut back off a little.

[mrboyy17]

my truck is leaking like a civ.  engine leaks out in like 3 different places.  tranny and transfer case have oil all over them...starter has oil all over it.  the bottom of my truck is just a huge oily and sludgy mess.  thinking of saving up some money and just getting a cratr motor and tranny off the internet instead of having someone fix all the leaks.  bought the truck a year ago and God only knows how many miles are on the engine or tranny.  probably end up costing the same to get my engine's leaks fixed and i would have a whole new engine.  replaced my battery cables yesterday and the cable from the battery to the starter solenoid.  truck wont start.  could it be all the oil all over the starter causing this? 
mark

[k5blazerfan]

does it have a security system with the special key?

[mrboyy17]

?? no

[Lt.Del]

you should keep this issue on one thread only--makes it confusing following what has been added or replied....

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=14765.0

Did you try jumping as suggested?  Do you have a salvage yard nearby you?...I have three starters for my '79....so cheap--any sbc starter will work from that era with staggered two bolt pattern.  If I have a problem with one, i take 10 mins and replace it with another if just to help diagnose or eliminate one thing.

replaced my battery cables yesterday and the cable from the battery to the starter solenoid.  truck wont start.  could it be all the oil all over the starter causing this?  

so you are saying after replacing cables, then the truck wouldn't start?

I'd go back to what you replaced since it ran.  R U sure you put the starter/ battery cables on correctly?  Tightened?  Did you replace the starter cable AFTER you connected the battery cable....anytime you work on starters, the cable should be unhooked or if you see a spark (all it takes is your wrench touching metal frame), your fusible link could be toast.

When you replaced the ground cable for battery, are you sure you sanded off the metal for good ground?

[Irish_Alley]

about the oil leak clean it up with some degreaser and let it run "not drive it" and just look see if its obvious were its coming from and fix it. check your connections. in my 94 the lights would dim down for a half sec then would power back to full looking at the volt gauge it would read 14 norm but when this happend it would read 12 it would only happen everyonce in a while. thinking it was the alt i unplugged my bat only to find the bolt was just a tad lose but didn't think nothing of it replaced the alt and fixed it starters faster than it had and no more light dimming took the alt to autozone they want to test it first to make sure it's bad. it pass i told them it might pass since it only did this every now and then but they don't want to hear nothing of it. thinking of clipping one of the wires and taking it back to them so it will fail lol. but just like my problem it might be something like a lose bolt

[mrboyy17]

no del.....the truck ran fine and i drive it about 2 times a week.   welll i went out to start it the other day and nothing.  just click click click click on the inside i can hear it.   the starter doesnt engage.  it is finicky truck and a couple times i tried to start my truck and nothing but after i toggled with all the wires in the engine compartment it would start.  so i thought maybe my battery cables were bad.  replaced those...click click click.  ville told me to hit my starter with a hammer but its cold and snowy outside so i will try that soon.  my stereo, lights etc still come on so i know my battery didnt die.  its like 5 months old too.  wish i had your 383 though...my motor leaks like a civ.  need a heart transplant. but....ive put on new balljoints, new tie rods, new steering box, new tank selector switch, fuel filter, fuel line, seat cover, so im getting into this build slowly....i have little experience but im getting there.  what better truck to learn on than mine?  thanks
mark

[Irish_Alley]

OK just cause your light light up doesn't mean you have a good ground could be grounded just not enough to crank the engine causing the starter to get not enough juice to turn. try jumping the solenoid and see were that goes touch the two big wires on the starter with a screw driver and it should spark and turn

[Marc]

Is it standard or automatic?  Are you just hearing the click of the ignition switch down low on the column?  You could try holding your foot on the brake, hold the key in start, and move the gearshift slowly through the gears to see if something is up with the neutral safety switch.