So I started having problems with it not starting before I pulled the transmission. All it would do is click, so I figured either starter or battery. Had the battery checked and it was good(Had it checked twice now) Had the starter tested and it passed. So I started replacing the cables and the solenoid. Got the car back together and it worked good for a week. Now its doing the same thing only now it will occasionaly click(solenoid) and everything goes off like it has no power. So I moved the ground from the alternator bracket to a bolt on the front. Still nothing. BUT the positive battery cable gets hot(temp wise) even when the car acts like there is no power going to it. Any suggestions?

 

pull the BIG plug out the alternator, and see if it will start then.

relocate your ground wire to the top of the ac bracket bolt or behind it. youll see

 

How hot is the wire getting? I know it was just replaced but if it is getting hot then something is not right. I would follow the wire to check for faults or breaks maybe at the hold down points. Did you splice the eyelet(s) into the cable(s) or did they come preconnected...... and Battery terminalsare tight right?
When I had this issue, it was the main power lead from thepositive battery terminal to the solenoid, was this replaced as well?

 

tried grounding the case of the starter? like running a ground from a starter bolt to a part of the frame.

 

Thats what I am thinking, I replaced the battery cause the battery was bad but I am still getting nothing. I think either the wiring going down to the starter is bad, or the starter itself might be bad. If I jump from the power to the ignition side I get the same thing just a click, but if I jump across to the starter is doesn't do anything. Either wires, starter or bad ground on the starter would be my guess.

 

See if you have 12 volts at the top terminal of the starter. If not your problem is somewhere between the battery and the solenoid. Since you say you have a clicking sound and the starter is tested to work then your just not getting power to the solenoid then the starter.

If you do not have 12 volts at the top terminal just keep back checking the wire until you find it. It may be a wire, it may be the starter relay on the fender apron.

 

Yes the starter was tested 5 times, it passed everytime. I can jump the solenoid from little pole where the ignition wire goes to and it clicks so i figured it was between the solenoid and the starter. Either the wire or the starter itself.

What all wires go on the solenoid? I think they have the the wiring screwy. As it is now there is the power from the battery, the big cable to the starter plus a few other wires on what BIG post and on the other big post is just the little wire to the starter. Does this sound right?

 

Yes. There sould be a hot wire to the top terminal on the starter. (refer to my other post to confirm that is working properly). Then there is another wire small wire going to the solenoid also. Thats the switch wire which is hot durning the start position. If you are hearing a good clicking sound that is working properly. Lastly there is another wire that goes from the solenoid to the starter motor. That wire is what actually spins the start wire but if you do not have 12 volts at the other big wire it will not work.

 

From reading you post it sounds as if there are 3 wires going to the starter.

I only have 2 the big wire that is hooked on the same side of the solenoid as the wire from the positive side of the battery. The other wire is smaller wire on the other pole of the solenoid.

 

there should be only ONE wire going to the starter.

The small pole on the connector is used to close the connection between the solenoid (which is the exact same as running a wire between the two big poles) If the starter solenoid is clicking that means it is working properly. there is current getting to the cable that goes to the starter. The starter uses the index plate as a ground which goes to the engine (which is why the engine is grounded to the frame). In some cases the starter isn't getting a good enough ground.

So there are only 3 things that are possible unless your engine is locked up.

1. The biggest possibility which i'm willing to 100% bet is the problem is it's not grounded well, run something like 14 gauge wire to one of the bolts on the starter & have a friend hold it to the negative side of the battery (make sure the wire isn't by anything that it will get caught in if you try to start it). If that's the case you can just keep the wire on the starter bolt & run it to the firewall or somewhere on the passenger side or you could run the small wire all the way back to the battery along the same lines of the starter power feed line.

2. the starter is in a bind on the flywheel (or flexplate if auto). You can try rotating the crank with a 1/2" socket wrench, extension, & socket on the crank bolt that holds the harmonic balancer on.

3. bad starter feed wire, this can both be on the starter solenoid to battery & starter solenoid to starter side. Could be anything from not being bolted down tight to a break in the wire.

2 is very unlikely. 3 is also a very slim chance, but possible.

since your starter tested good, and your solenoid is working check those 3 things & let us know if the problem is still there.