Starter Relay

[J-440]

 Tried to start my car and she wouldn't.  Whenever I turn the key to start, I can hear and feel the starter relay clicking.  Ok, simple fix.  So I go and replace it with a brand new relay and I get the exact same thing.  My wife turns the key and I can grab the relay and physically feel it click.  Both relays do this.  I have an MSD 6AL with a FAST duel sync distributor so that eliminates a ballast resistor.  What are the odds of a fairly old relay and a brand new relay doing this? Or am I missing something else?  All fuses are good as well.  Thanks for the help.

[Gold Rush]

Sounds to me like your battery is very low.  Relay is closing but not enough power to the starter.  Either that or maybe bad connections on battery or starter.

[b5blue]

   I had a "loose" main connection in the lead terminal at the battery post. (The one time pounding on something with a hammer actually fixed the problem.) Have someone turn the key to "start" and you vigorously wiggle every possible connection you can. Also check ground straps and battery condition.  

[birdsandbees]

Is the starter itself "clicking" or just the firewall solenoid?

If the starter is clicking and battery is good I bet your contact lug or plate is arc'd and not making contact. As teenagers we'd cheat and crank the cable attach lug to turn it a bit for fresh contact and be good for another couple weeks. Time for some starter rework me thinks..

[J-440]

 Battery has 12 volts. Both relays click when the key is turned. I'll be checking the connections though.

[Nacho-RT74]

Starter motor bushings worn and armature is getting stuck with fields.

Or solenoid contact plate as mentioned.

Also loosen contacts on starter motor

You can discard the bushing deal hammering the starter motor to check if begins to work

BTDT

[J-440]

 Don't know if I made this clear or not. It's the relay on the firewall that's doing all the clicking.  I don't hear any clicking coming from the starter itself.  What about the fusible link that's in the dash harness that connects to the relay?

[Nacho-RT74]

The fuse link doesn't take part of the starting motor system. Nor the relay or motor itself. A burnt fuselink won't reach the power to the cab, so then won't get a clik because ign switch won't get power to trigger it.

you can try to jump out the SOL terminal and the big stud, with a wrench. This will discard the fail is on motor or not

[J-440]

Nacho, what do you mean by jump out? Are you saying take something metal and touch the 2 studs on the starter motor to see if it will engage the starter gear?

[Nacho-RT74]

At starter relay.

you can make the same with starter motor too after that.

[Nacho-RT74]

If works jumping out the relay, problem is relay.

if not, problem is at starter motor


if jumping out the starter motor and works, problem is at motor solenoid ( probably contact plate )

if not, could be as I mentioned before, starter motor bushings worn and armature can be stuck with outer fields. You could try to hammer it several times and try again to confirm this. If still no response, could be armature itself

[J-440]

 Ok. Yeah I did the screwdriver trick with the firewall relay (both of them) and I just got sparks. When I checked the starter, both bolts had backed out some and the starter was loose. I tightened them up thinking that could be the problem but no, both relays just kept clicking. Gonna get to it this afternoon.

[J-440]

 Hey kids, make sure you have a strong crimp on that 1 gauge wire going from the battery to the starter post.  My charge wire had slipped out of the crimped (or so I thought) terminal.  Problem solved. 

[b5blue]

seee!

[J-440]

 B5 you called it...but stop being so cocky!!😁  Man, I'm thankful I didn't have to pull the plugs, the header, etc. Love fixing the small stuff. Y'all have a good one.

[J-440]

 Well hell.  Thought the loose connector was the problem but no.  Apparently it is the starter relay...on the starter.  How many of ya'll have replaced a relay with the starter unbolted but not free from the header?  I REALLY don't want to pull the header off. 

[b5blue]

Aw crap!