Loud clicking solenoid-No start

Hey guys, I'm having some serious problems with my car. When I turn the ignition key on to crank the engine, I get a very loud clicking sound from the starter solenoid on the firewall. I replaced the solenoid, but get the same response out of this one. The starter does not engage, but all the lights work. I am getting power to the solenoid, but when I took the lead that goes to the starter and touched it to the "hot" lead from the battery, it just sparked and did not engage the starter. (should it have?)

I have an MSD 6al box wired in, and the "I" spot on the small post of the solenoid has a red wire from the ignition box to it. It used to also connect to the fuel pump, but I disconnected it for other reasons in the past. Could this even be related?

Any troubleshooting tips would be GREATLY appreciated, and I know alot of you can handle a simple electrical problem from this 'ol beast.
[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]

PS - 1967 Mustang, Roller 302, electric holley blue fuel pump, and msd 6al

_________________

1967 mustang 302 roller block, x303 cam, twisted wedge heads, performer rpm intake, holley 600, msd 6al, blaster 2 coil, and distributor, holley blue fuel pump




<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: cward8 on 9/6/03 3:53pm ]</font>

check your battery

I forgot to add, I thought that was it as the first thing, but when I did a voltage reading I was getting 12.XX. I know that when the battery was low in the past, I would get the same type of clicking sound...

Check your negative battery wire and really make sure it is grounded good. Use some sandpaper etc on the surfaces of the engine block.

Sounds like your starter is shot, I,ve had em just go out when they seemed to be working fine one time and gone the next. Have you tried lightly tapping the starter with a hammer? Or try loosening it and see if you hear anything move,Real pain in the butt when they act up

Sounds like the starter might be history but your battery should be showing around 13 volts in a good fully charged state.
[addsig]

Thanks for the help guys, I'm going outside to check this right now. First, the battery cable, then the starter.

Should the solenoid be clicking like that?

Like the others said, bad battery connections or bad starter. It could very easily be a dead cell in the battery, not supplying sufficient amperage to turn the starter. I just had the same thing recently.
[addsig]

Check the + wire to the starter had the same thing happen to me. Make sure you have good HEAVY gauge wires from your batt. to your starter and solenoid.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 1967galaxie on 9/7/03 11:41am ]</font>

I had a nearly identical prob on my 85 GT. The solenoid would click but the starter wouldn't turn over. It turned out the weld on the bendix on the starter broke and was then stuck to the magnet. This kept the starter from even spinning. Check to see if you're getting power to the starter end of the cable, if you are then the starter is junk.