-turn ignition switch to engage starter and there's a very audible "click" then all power to the cabin goes out and doesn't return for about a minute or so. Starter doesn't engage.

-12.5v reading via multimeter on battery

-shorting out the posts on the solenoid located on the drivers side fender well produces the same exact result

-reading 12+ volts on same solenoid

-good continuity on small ground wire that runs between above solenoid and starter

-pulled starter and bench tested good

-good continuity on ground between battery and fender well

-makes sense to me that something is throwing a breaker due to the power outage then ultimate automatic reset mentioned above.



Where do I go next????

 

does the car have an alarm system? is manual or automatic? when did this start? have you done anything to the car recently?

 

-manual

-few days ago

-replaced thermostat

-pressure washed underside of car



-strange thing is now that i've re-mounted the starter after the bench test, I still get the clicking noise (sounds like its coming from the relay on the fender well) but I don't lose power inside the cabin. Also where before I removed the starter and tested all the wires I could arc the +/- posts on the relay and get the "click", now nothing happens when i short them out.

 

I had a battery in my ranger that had a post that was almost broke, did the same thing u are talking about. If the starter tested fine, but shorting the solenoid doesnt start it, try a putting in a different battery. I used jumper cables hooked to a good battery and it wouldnt start because of the post on my battery being almost shot inside the battery. Changed the battery and fired up. Worth a shot

 

sounds alot like the guy above me has you on the right track. Check your battery terminals and connections, make sure they are all tight,

 

New battery and all connections are clean and tight.

 

you said the starter was tested. What exactly is a bench test? (idk)

Anyways, a clicking starter will still spin pretty decent when lying on the ground. (like a hundred rpm a minute or so) Nothing like it should though.

idk about the lights thing though. I guess I would just go through and make sure all cables are not corroded bad and re-check grounds.