Starter troubles

[jtre]

So my truck won't start. When I turn the key, all I hear is a single, loud click. Battery tests fine. I believe it is the starter..what tests can i do to confirm it, and if it is the starter, is it a difficult job for this truck?

 

[GTMountain]

Unbolt it, use jumper cables from the battery directly to it with it sitting on the ground. If the solenoid pops out the gear but it doesn't spin the motor is toast. If the motor spins but the solenoid doesn't pop out the gear the solenoid is toast. If nothing happens then the whole thing is toast or you're doing it wrong haha. If it works fine that means you have a connection issue in the vehicle. --- Check youtube for a tutorial on how to apply voltage like this directly to test it.

 

[jtre]

I should add, this is an intermittent problem. yesterday I tried maybe 5-7 times to start it with the same result. I let it sit overnight without doing anything and I guess she was in a good mood because it fired right up twice. It also happened to me a few days ago but it fired up after one failed attempt.

 

[GTMountain]

starters get dead spots. Once upon a time, when you could actually reach things easily, when your starter landed on a dead spot you just whacked it with a wrench.

 

[jtre]

starters get dead spots. Once upon a time, when you could actually reach things easily, when your starter landed on a dead spot you just whacked it with a wrench.

so if it is a dead spot, and every other component checks out, should I replace it (its 20 years old so i wouldnt be surprised if it is going)

 

[GTMountain]

Yup yup