Starter wont turn over

[xokia]

So this 1988 SE v6 the starter wont turn over. The starter was recently replaced a couple years ago and the truck is rarely driven.

It had turned over earlier in the day. But I went out to try today and it made some clicking noises then went caput. I charged up the battery so battery is fully charged. I tried using a multimeter down at the starter. Starter main wire is getting voltage. The 2 wires that go to the selonoid I assume one should be 12V when you click the key. I get 1.2v and 0 on the other wire. What should these be and is there a fuse that goes to them or some other connection I can check.

[89'HBV6]

I wonder if your ignition switch is having issues. I've also seen new starters fail, shortly after installation.

Got any contact cleaner? Clean the contacts on the solenoid and the starter. Might even clean the switch and the plug at the end of the switch... but wait for others to chime in before taking those last 2 steps.

[dvdswan]

Clean the battery cable connections on both positive and negative. Ensure both sides are free of dirt/corrosion, and tight.

If the cables are bulgy on the ends just replace the whole cable.

[xokia]

No issue with the battery cables. The ignition seems to be fine I measured the back of the ignition with a multi-meter. Problem seems to be elsewhere. Has me stumped.

I suspect that the 2 wires that go to solenoid need to be energized when the key is switched to the start position so I will need to trace those back and find where the problem is located.

[cadillacdude1975]

Manual transmission? If so, the rubber plug on the clutch safe switch has probably crumbled. It will not start if that is what happened because the ECM still sees the clutch as not pressed.

[xokia]

Originally Posted by cadillacdude1975

Manual transmission? If so, the rubber plug on the clutch safe switch has probably crumbled. It will not start if that is what happened because the ECM still sees the clutch as not pressed.

It's an automatic. I was thinking Park safety switch or something.

Anyone know what voltage I should be seeing on those two wires that go to the starter solenoid? Wish I could rig up some kind of jumper to manually test it out. I guess I could put a spade plug on some wires and try to manually climb under there and connect up to the solenoid. But is it just +12V and ground? I have 2 wires going to the solenoid.

[dvdswan]

Park/neutral switch won't even engage the starter if its activated. No click, no spin, nothing.

[89'HBV6]

Originally Posted by dvdswan

Park/neutral switch won't even engage the starter if its activated. No click, no spin, nothing.

Yea, check what he said... ^ ^ ^

[xokia]

So I got down there with a multimeter again. I have 2 wires going to the starter solenoid. A black with white(maybe pink) stripe and a black with yellow stripe.

Black with white stripe(maybe pink) I get +12V when the key is clicked.
Black with yellow stripe I get nothing. I even checked to see if it was ground and it does not appear to be connected to anything.

I have a Haynes manual and I cant find reference to a two wire starter. All it has is a single wire starter in it. Anyone have a better wire diagram and can tell me what that black with yellow stripe is supposed to be?

I'm thinking it should be ground. I want to know if there is any interlock connected to it. I.e. is there a way for the truck to float that ground. If I connect a multimeter to the positive terminal of the battery and then probe that connector I would expect it to ground and show me +12V.

[89'HBV6]

Try something...

- Key in the ignition, turn to acc
- Press brake and shift into R
- Move shifter back into P
- Try to start

I'm now suspicious of the P switch. Deal with the simple stuff first... it ran before, right?

Floor shifter, right? Some liquid spilled there, at some time in the past. Easy to do...

edit: Yes, this is a lockout switch...