need some auto help

[homersipes]

my truck wont start its about 100 degrees and I cant seem to think straight.  the starter will spin if I arc across the solenoid on the starter, but it wont kick the bendix out.  my boat has 2 solenoids one on starter and same thing happens, if I arc the one on starter it just spins but if I arc the other it spins not sure why its a brand new starter.  any how back to the truck, when ignition is turned to start, no lights dim, and no click.  but all the dash gauges go off like usual, just no click.  I have never had a starter with no click be bad, its always in the wiring.  anyone have the same experience with this?  its a 2003 2500 hd 6.0 automatic, maybe neutral safety switch? I am not sure how to test or by pass it.

[bigsky]

[homersipes]

hahahaha exactly, today has been stupid, tractor startor was messed up, penetrating oil fixed that.  Then took my daughter down to drive the 4wheeler, made about 8 laps around and it died and wouldnt start.  So the wife got home and figured we could take the boat out, backed up to trailer got all hooked up and no start   so I was going to take the starter off and try and clean up the terminals and broke the small signal wire terminal off of the dang thing, so now I have to replace the stupid thing regardless

[smoe]

Sounds like your battery may be dead or drained.

[jeep00]

A soft but appropriate application of percussive maintenance would be my first thought. Couple sharp taps to the starter with a dead blow or plastic screwdriver handle whilst someone has the key turned to the start position.
YMMV
Good luck

[icepac]

Does your security light blink when you turn the key to start?

[eagl]

Find the starter solenoid and tap on it.  It may be in the fuze box, may be elsewhere.  Consult your chiltons or manufacturer service manual for the exact location, or if you know what it looks like just start looking for it upstream of the starter wiring. 

You can also check various fuses in the fusebox.  I had a strange problem with my G8 where trying to start the car would blow the starter fuse. Towed it to the dealer and they couldn't duplicate the problem, but they swapped out the starter under warranty.  I suspect they nicked the starter wiring or damaged the starter when they replaced the rear main seal a few months earlier (also under warranty) but they wouldn't admit to finding any damage so who knows.

Still, it could be a lot of things from low battery voltage to a bad solenoid.  Battery voltage ought to be in the neighborhood of 23 to 25 volts with no load, but that will only tell you if the battery is not outright dead or damaged.  A degraded battery may show 23+ volts with no load but may sag below the voltage required to run the starter once the circuit is closed.  Still, it sounds to me like the starter solenoid is not functioning for some reason.  Could be a fault in the starter wiring, a bad solenoid, a bad fuse, a bad starter, or a bad battery.

[NikonGuy]

I dont know this type of truck but there is usually a relay that controls the flow of power to your solenoid.  Turning the ignition energises the relay and the relay sends high current to your solenoid.  I had one go once, mucked around with my starter for hours before tracking it down to the relay which cost me $5 to replace.

If you know how to use a multimeter or voltage meter get someone to turn the ignition and see if you are getting voltage at the solenoid.  If you are then its solenoid/starter related, if not then most likely relay or the inhibitor switch that is actuated via the gear lever so you cant start it in drive.

Good luck  

[homersipes]

thanks yall yeah it had powe12.3 volts going to the starter and the signal wire from ignition also had power so, I figured it was the starter gotta replace it anyways broke the signal tab off trying to get the dang thing out.  gotta love the salt they use here

[eagl]

Good luck.  I meant 12-15 volts not 23-25 volts btw...  Too much time thinking about aircraft electrical systems lately.