[Cliff34]

What is the voltage I should see at the starter. I'm currently seeing 12.8. i'm getting a clicking noise but no engagement of the starter. This is a new MSD starter with only about 20 starts- could it be that I have a bad solenoid?? Oh sorry i'm working with a chevy 350.

[poncho62]

On the large terminal on the starter, you should see the same voltage as at the battery. 12.8 is about right. When granking the key, you should see about the same at the small terminal closest to the engine block. If you have voltage there, there is a problem in the solenoid or the starter itself.

[58Apache]

Agree with Poncho, there's about a 90% chance of that solenoid being bad.

If it's not though, I'd check the battery to see if it tests ok under load.

Finally, if the battery cables are old, corroded(wire inside insulation), too small in diameter, terminals not clean, etc, they may not be able to carry the load on demand.

I'd take take a trip to my local parts store that tests parts, and take that solenoid down to see if they can test it, take the battery down to have it tested under load, and unless someone upgrade those battery cables recently, replace the battery cables for the heck of it with larger diameter cables.

If that don't do it, there's a remote chance that starter went bad or it got locked into the flywheel somehow. You can test it while it's out of the mount, but be careful, it puts out a lot of torque!

Steve