1970 Maverick - Help! Will not turn over...

I have a 1970 Ford Maverick 6 cylinder 2.8 L ran great for about 6 months, then one morning I went to start her up and I got clicks. So I figured the solenoid was bad, jumped the solenoid with a screw driver and it started right up. After work I went and got a replacement solenoid, installed the solenoid, still getting clicks, now it clicks when I try to jump the solenoid. Had the starter tested, it was bad, so I bought a replacement. Installed the new starter & cable from the solenoid to the starter, still clicks. So I think maybe the battery is low / dead. Stuck the battery on the charger overnight, still getting clicks. Took the battery in to have it tested, battery tested 100% fine. Went ahead and got a new voltage regulator, installed that, still getting clicks. I have checked all the connections, they are all good and tight, cleaned the battery terminals, cleaned the cables. Still getting clicks...What am I missing? What do I need to do to get her to turn over again?? Any and all help will be greatly appreciated!!

 

Are you sure you do not have some teeth broken on the fly wheel?? Depends how loud the click is.

 

Did you check the ground cable to the engine for good contact?

 

Dean Deeter - No not sure if there's broken teeth, but the clicking def sounds like it's coming from the solenoid.

Jsarnold - Ground cable has been checked and re-checked, cleaned and then checked again. I was really hoping it was the ground.

 

You may want to check your battery terminals. I had something of a problem like yours and it was a faulty terminal. A broken battery cable will do cause this issue as well. My 2 cents.......

 

I would almost bet it is something you have already checked. I have gotten a bad starter before. Have it benched checked before you install. Make sure and double check all connections and clean battery posts and cables. Have you tried to jump start it to see what happens??

 

If you jump the car from another will it start then? Did they load test the battery?

 

I suggest use a test light to check every thing ,all the way to the starter.Turn the crankshaft bolt thru ,to make sure the starter is not locked into the flywheel. On that engine you should be able to enguage the starter with booster cables.

 

Have you checked the condition of the battery cables? You may have too much voltage drop between the battery and the starter.

 

Sounds to me like you got a bad new (N.ever E.ver W.orked) starter solenoid.......the cheap ones all come from china and quality is suspect. I went through 3 before ended up buying q good one from napa.......:Handshake

 

And that has happened more than once........easy test though just take the two big cables off the solenoid.......and touch them together......if the starter engages u got it figured out........good luck ....and happy mavericking

 

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will try more tomorrow and report back...Wish me luck!

 

Just wanted to say thanks to all for your tips / suggestions! It was a bad new solenoid and bad pos cable. Just as soon as I put another new solenoid on and swapped the pos battery cable it fired right up.

 

Ditto on the bad cable! This is what happened to mine, and the outside looked fine!
See how much of the cable was actually attached to the terminal end!