Truck wont start.. No clicking sound.

[MrEwubbsZ]

so this morning i go to start my truck and i got though. so sound no nothing.
Lights all came on so i check the battery its about 12.8 volts.
so i climb under the truck and tap the starter with a hammer then wiggle the wires going to the solenoid and the ground snaped off from barely any force.

so i take the starter off anyways because it would be easier to add a new connector on that wire with the starter out of the way.
I bought the starter inside and hooked a battery up to it and it works.

so whats next? fix that wire and hook it all back up?
Is there anything else i should check?

I dont really know much about cars or trucks. so please bear with me.

 

[adsm08]

Sounds like you know enough to get started here.

First thing I would do is fix the broken ground strap. If it still won't work run a jumper cable from the battery to the starter and try again.

 

[Earl43P]

There is NO GROUND STRAP or WIRE in or on a 2000 starter.

There is a large wire with 12v present at all times, it comes directly from the battery.

There is a small wire that has 12V applied when the key is turned to Crank. Sounds like yours broke = no click.

That is all.

All grounds are accomplished through the case.

 

[adsm08]

There is NO GROUND STRAP or WIRE in or on a 2000 starter.

There is a large wire with 12v present at all times, it comes directly from the battery.

There is a small wire that has 12V applied when the key is turned to Crank. Sounds like yours broke = no click.

That is all.

All grounds are accomplished through the case.

Yeah, but the block is still connected back to the battery neg terminal by a ground wire.

Being that I don't feel well enough to think about it too hard I am assuming that wire is that the OP broke, since I don't actually know where it is off the top of my head.

 

[MrEwubbsZ]

There is NO GROUND STRAP or WIRE in or on a 2000 starter.

There is a large wire with 12v present at all times, it comes directly from the battery.

There is a small wire that has 12V applied when the key is turned to Crank. Sounds like yours broke = no click.

That is all.

All grounds are accomplished through the case.

sounds like what broke? the wire?
Get that hooked back up and go from there


say after i hooked this back up and it still doesnt work.. whats my next step?

 

[RonD]

There is also a Neutral safety switch(NSS) for automatics and a Clutch switch for manuals.

These switches are wired between key and solenoid, so if transmission is not in Park or Neutral the starter will not turn nor would you hear a click, same if the clutch pedal is not pushed all the way in.

Worn connector and now broken wire on the starter was probably the issue, but once that is repaired and you still have the no click when trying to start I would look at the NSS

On automatics the NSS is in the transmission with a connector on the outside, usually right above the shift linkage.
Linkage can just be loose so while trans is in Park the switch is not fully engaged.

If it is a manual transmission the switch is on the Clutch pedal linkage inside the cab, similar to a Brake Light switch, easy to test and replace.

 

[MrEwubbsZ]

Alright that fixed that wire was just a little weak

Good to go