Wanted to go see my GP at the body shop, but my wife's truck won't start. She said it's been having problems starting lately, but I drove it last night.

I put in a new battery last year...the autozone premium, top of the line one.

The dome light and headlights work fine, so I don't think it's a battery issue.

I think it's a starter or solenoid issue. I turn the key and NOTHING happens. No click ,no turn over.

Should I start with the solenoid, or just replace the starter?

Make sure your battery connections are clean and tight, then check the connections at the starter with a test light. Check for any burnt fusible links; if all seems ok, have someone hold the key in the crank position, and lightly tap the starter & solenoid with a hammer.

more times than not, IF it is a starter problem, then its the solenoid. Problem with the solenoid on a majority of newer cars and starters: the solenoid is integral with the starter. My vote is to replace the starter with either reman or new.

I don't have a test light. I've checked the battery connections and they are good.

I'm going to go buy a solenoid tonight and try replacing it. Have to get a rental car first.

That sucks man. My money's on starter (or if the truck has an equivalent of the ignition switch, that's also a possibility). Seems likely to be the starter though, if you don't hear anything and it makes no attempt to turn over at all.

Yeah my money is on starter too. But better to try the $10 solenoid before the $200 starter.

A way to know is have someone turn the key and tap the siliniod with a hammer, if it starts, or you hear it ingage, then yes, its the siliniod.

Ok tried it again and it did click. So I guess it's not the solenoid.

I heard to do that with the starter. I tried doing it, but it's a tight squeeze and couldn't get the ahmmer in there.

I just used a piece of wood and gave it a few wraps. Nothing.

UMfan, why don't you just rig up 12 volts straight to the starter and see what happens?
Also, maybe try throwing it in drive and give the truck a push; maybe the starter teeth and flywheel teeth are jammed up.

Don't have the tools to hook up 12V.

My house is on a hill. If I push it down my driveway, I'm not getting it back up.

can you bypass the solenoid with booster cables? If its a fender mounted solenoid it shouldnt be to difficult. If you can and the starter can start..it should...

Went out to go work on the truck and now the battery is dead.

Guess it wasn't the starter.

Battery?

either a dead cell or something is draining the battery down.

Alternator?