Batteries are maybe 3 months old, alt is about a year. Truck started great this morning and drove to the office without problem. Went to start it and all I get is a click from the area if the solenoid. With the key on I bypassed the solenoid with a jumper cable, no luck. I tried to bypass it all with a jumper cable a run power to the starter, had no luck.

I am thinking bad starter at this point, taking my test light to the office so I can test it tomorrow. Any ideas before I throw money at it?

I know the 7.3 has two solenoids, the second one being on the starter. Should be able to see where I an loosing power(if I am) tomorrow with tools.

what is the prognosis? sorry I couldn't help yesterday, sleep took a priority.

That sucks man. Sounds like the starter is just drawing too much amperage. Did you have a block heater plugged in overnight? That could esplain it starting in the am, but not after work.

If the starter is taking a dump, I wonder if a jump start would give you enough amps to persuade it to start so that you can bring it home.

You could always sign up for aaa and then have them tow it to your dad's shop so that you have a more comfy place to troubleshoot it. If it weren't so cold i'd tell you to pull the starter and have it tested at one of the parts chains. It would duck to pull it in the parking lot in this weather though.

Well, I tested it yesterday at lunch time with my trusty test light. Looks like the power is getting all the way down to the 2nd solenoid that is "part of" the starter. In addition, I can confirm that the neutral safety switch is working. At this point I think it is safe to go ahead and buy a starter. (under the assumption that it is getting enough juice)

Unfortunately, I have to let my truck sit in the parking lot one more night, because I get paid tomorrow. I will buy the starter at lunch time and install it in the parking lot so I don't have to pay for a tow.

Not looking forward to that shit.

Are you certain your battery wire is good? I have seen meters read voltage at the starter and yet not be able to get the job done due to the battery wire itself being corroded internally where it isn't easy to see (ultra high impedance when it comes crank time) The last time I saw a starter wire do this, it was green from end to end when cut open and externally it was visually perfect and had been working until all of a sudden it didn't. Just a thought, I have witnessed it twice and would have never guessed.

Ya, I am pretty damn sure. Here is what I am basing it on. This has not been starting slowly, it will hold above 11.5 while starting. I totally get where you are going, but don't you think its weird that their where no signs, and it just stopped working. I would think that if it where a wire with internal corrosion I would see some signs like dimmed lights... not very responsive volt meter... slow cranking... stuff like that.

Especially on this beast which is a real whore to start when it is this cold, even in the best of conditions.

I don't know if there were any signs before the fail on my neighbors truck, but the backhoe at the cemetary I worked at, functioned perfectly until it gave up. We looked high and low as there was zero visible corrosion and in the end, the entire two feet of starter wire was green as was possible.

Clean ur wires foo, when u ASSume....

Last time I checked, you cant do an internal cleaning on the wires... Battery connections are clean homie.

Actually they have an aerosol electrical cleaner at the parts store that you can flush the lines with. You disconnect it at one end, and keep spraying until no more crap comes out the other end. When it dries, it forms a protective coating on the wire strands to prevent the corrosion from coming back.

You probably have to ask for it at the counter, I rarely see it on the shelves.