Aunt Rose won't start

[MyrtleBeachMike]

First let me start off with the fact that I can build a house but am practically ignorant of automotive repair despite the fact I understand the basics. My '88 Ranger (Aunt Rose) has done me well for the last year, I got her for $700 and have only replaced the hoses, belts, new water pump and recently (three weeks) a new battery and had the ignition module replaced. I got her so I could learn about motors, to be honest but haven't had much time or guidance to get into it. Today, after several trips I parked her in the lot at work and when I went to leave I turned the key and....nothing. Thinking the battery was dead although I couldn't figure why I had a coworker give me a jump. Once he was connected I could get my lights lit but only a clicking sound. A guy came along who knew "everything about cars" and asked for a screwdriver, he futzed with the starter relay (?) - I got this from my Chilton manual based on where he was futzing - got some sparks but still nothing but the clicking. Once my buddy pulled the cables off, again I had no lights. I won't get into what I think I know, I'll just trust your input. Where do I go from here? Another friend said it's the alternator but I'm perplexed as to why I get lights from my buddy's car and none from my own battery, like I said, it's relatively new. Anyway lads, what are my next steps. Thank you in advance for your advice.
Mike

 

[kunar]

check your ground cable and both battery posts for loose connections or corrosion

 

[MyrtleBeachMike]

Okay, here comes the automotive ignorance....

Where/what is the ground cable and how do I check it? The battery's new so there's no corrosion on the posts, I slathered it with jelly when I hooked it up and bought new terminal connectors but haven't replaced them yet since I need to cut off the old ones first.
Thanks,
Mike

 

[mn_smokeater]

ground will be the big one going to the engine block

 

[cody93]

ur starter silonoid is clickin cause there is inceficent power. if ur cause is flat dead, and only has the slightest bit of power when jumped, could be a bad battery cable or a short, one way to tell if ther is a short is to take a continuity tester to the 2 battery cables, without the battery. if your meter says there little resistence, then u got a short, high resistence would be norm, only things that are usually gettin power all the time is the radio clock. good luck, and what an intresting name for a car? why aunt rose and not just rose?

 

[necessaryevil]

pull your battery, get it tested and charge if necessary. check your ground cables, you should have one that runs from the neg side of the battery to the engine block then to the frame rail. if it starts with a hot battery check your battery voltage with a tester, you should have around 12.5 volts with the engine off and everything off, start the engine you should now have around 13.0-14.5 volts at about 1200rpm if not you have a charging problem.

 

[adsm08]

You didn't put the terminal jelly on before the battery cables did you?

I knew a guy (a professional) who did that the first time he worked with it.

 

[MyrtleBeachMike]

Here's what I've done so far..

Pulled the battery and the alternator and had them tested, both fine. full charge on the battery. The ground cable looks fine, there was a broken wire on the starter relay, I fixed that and taped up some frayed wires. Got in and turned the key got the seatbelt buzzer, when I went to ignite I think I saw a spark near the battery but can't be sure. The guy at autozone thinks the starter's "locked up tighter than dick's hatband." Tomorrow, I'm going to try and remove it and take it to test.
As for the battery terminals, I can't really remember which got the jelly first, I got it at AZ and the guy there installed it but it's been running fine for the last three weeks..should I wipe it clean?
My wife named her Aunt Rose because she's an old lady and her red color has faded a little. I'd hate to give her up, I'm glad she died in my store lot instead of on the street but AutoZone is closer to my house and I could spend more time working on her in a day if she was in my driveway.
Any other suggestions are welcome.

 

[adsm08]

could very well be the starter now that you have power.

 

[88gt]

agreed, and leave the jelly on the post, if you dont it will void the AZ warranty on the battery.

 

[feellnfroggy]

First let me start off with the fact that I can build a house but am practically ignorant of automotive repair despite the fact I understand the basics. My '88 Ranger (Aunt Rose) has done me well for the last year, I got her for $700 and have only replaced the hoses, belts, new water pump and recently (three weeks) a new battery and had the ignition module replaced. I got her so I could learn about motors, to be honest but haven't had much time or guidance to get into it. Today, after several trips I parked her in the lot at work and when I went to leave I turned the key and....nothing. Thinking the battery was dead although I couldn't figure why I had a coworker give me a jump. Once he was connected I could get my lights lit but only a clicking sound. A guy came along who knew "everything about cars" and asked for a screwdriver, he futzed with the starter relay (?) - I got this from my Chilton manual based on where he was futzing - got some sparks but still nothing but the clicking. Once my buddy pulled the cables off, again I had no lights. I won't get into what I think I know, I'll just trust your input. Where do I go from here? Another friend said it's the alternator but I'm perplexed as to why I get lights from my buddy's car and none from my own battery, like I said, it's relatively new. Anyway lads, what are my next steps. Thank you in advance for your advice.
Mike

Simple but true, check that your terminals are tight. There are only 3 or 4 components. If the battery is good and the starter relay(side wall of the engine bay) is good, then you check the starter solenoid, which is mounted on the starter. If that is good then the starter is bad.
1. battery
2. starter relay
3. starter solenoid
4. starter. These are the only components involved with 'turning the engine over'. if it turns over and you have a firing problem its something different altogether

Hope this helps.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Pulled the battery and the alternator and had them tested, both fine. full charge on the battery. The ground cable looks fine, there was a broken wire on the starter relay, I fixed that and taped up some frayed wires. Got in and turned the key got the seatbelt buzzer, when I went to ignite I think I saw a spark near the battery but can't be sure. The guy at autozone thinks the starter's "locked up tighter than dick's hatband." Tomorrow, I'm going to try and remove it and take it to test.
As for the battery terminals, I can't really remember which got the jelly first, I got it at AZ and the guy there installed it but it's been running fine for the last three weeks..should I wipe it clean?
My wife named her Aunt Rose because she's an old lady and her red color has faded a little. I'd hate to give her up, I'm glad she died in my store lot instead of on the street but AutoZone is closer to my house and I could spend more time working on her in a day if she was in my driveway.
Any other suggestions are welcome.

An eay way to test the starter is take some excess wire and when you remove it from the tranny just wire it directly to the battery. (i mean touch the tip of a wire, dont bolt it in place or nothing) if the starter turns over its good.

 

[MyrtleBeachMike]

How can I be sure if the relay is good? Should I just replace it before going through the trouble of removing the starter. I suppose I've got to remove the starter to get at the solenoid huh? I ask because any work I have to do I have to do in the parking lot of my store, plus I've got the wife's car today so don't think I'll have time to jack up Rose and remove the starter (take it to AZ, get it tested and back on Rosie) before I have to go pick up Miss Pamela. The ground wire looked good but how can I clean the connection to the block in case that's an issue?

 

[Psychopete]

How can I be sure if the relay is good?

With a 12V test light.. Probably could diagnose all of this with one.