Strange battery issue - maybe ignition switch?

[Asshat]

Drove the truck all day today, helping my daughter move. Got home and went to pull it into the garage and the starter almost seemed to stay engaged; this was when I backed it out to get something out of the garage. When I went to start the truck, it seemed to lag and not turn over, then nothing. Put the meter on it and 1.03 volts. Would not charge with the battery charger unless I disconnected the negative terminal. With the battery disconnected it would charge.
I think my ignition switch or starter shorted out. Good thing it happened my driveway.

[Asshat]

When I removed the ignition switch-nothing changed. When I removed the starter wires, it did not short out anymore.
Looks like I need a starter.

[val1gonzales]

Or just the solenoid. Starter just does what the solenoid tells it to do. Sounds like starter is fine cause its running when cranked.

[Asshat]

Originally Posted by val1gonzales

Or just the solenoid. Starter just does what the solenoid tells it to do. Sounds like starter is fine cause its running when cranked.

The solenoid is part of the starter, it is not separate like a Ford. I think I’m just going to get a whole new starter.

[cwcarpenter98]

The solenoid is part of the starter, yes, but you can still easily swap them out. I did that on my truck, unfortunately for me though, the starter is still on its way out

[val1gonzales]

Maybe go old school and rebuild it. If armature is good just need bushings and brushes. here's how.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inLIotmsnwg

[Steeveedee]

You've been working on this truck for awhile, and it's possible that the "S" terminal wire has come loose and is contacting the main starter wire from the battery positive terminal. Ask me how I know.

[Asshat]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

You've been working on this truck for awhile, and it's possible that the "S" terminal wire has come loose and is contacting the main starter wire from the battery positive terminal. Ask me how I know.

I disconnected each terminal today and none of them were loose.

[Asshat]

Getting back to this since my driveline and transmission is installed.

Strange thing - when I touch the negative battery cable to the battery, I see a small spark. This is with the starter installed and all connections secure. This includes the positive cable from the battery to the starter, the yellow wire on the R terminal and the purple wire on the S terminal.

A voltage check at the battery reads 3 volts, like something is draining the battery. Voltage at the battery with nothing connected is 12 volts.

[Steeveedee]

Unless you have an aftermarket radio, there should be nothing taking power, and it's unlikely that you would see the spark from that amount of current draw. The next things that come to mind are the stop light switch out of adjustment and leaving the brake lights on, or a door jamb switch that doesn't open when you close the door. What aftermarket equipment do you have in it? BTW, a battery at 12.0 Volts is pretty much dead.

[Asshat]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Unless you have an aftermarket radio, there should be nothing taking power, and it's unlikely that you would see the spark from that amount of current draw. The next things that come to mind are the stop light switch out of adjustment and leaving the brake lights on, or a door jamb switch that doesn't open when you close the door. What aftermarket equipment do you have in it? BTW, a battery at 12.0 Volts is pretty much dead.

No aftermarket stuff at all. 12 volts is dead? It’s a 12v system.
I measured the battery before, it had 12 volts and it ran great.

[old cruiser]

I would suggest taking one wire off at a time from starter and test voltage each time.
This will eliminate starter or solenoid. Then through to ignition.
You could do the same type of thing at the fuse box. This would test each circuit.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by Asshat

No aftermarket stuff at all. 12 volts is dead? It’s a 12v system.
I measured the battery before, it had 12 volts and it ran great.

A fully charged battery is 12.6V.

[Asshat]

With the starter bolted up, it turned over for a second, then stopped. I think my better is toast!

[Asshat]

New battery did not change anything
I checked the ignition switch with a meter, checks out ok.

When I touch the negative battery cable to the negative battery post, I hear a click sound coming from the distributor; when I remove the red wire on the coil coming from the distributor, it no longer does the click.

Wondering if the Pertronix system is shorted?

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

A fully charged battery is 12.6V.

OK, after my answer, you posted a thread about batteries, and I realized that maybe you didn't have a flooded wet cell battery. I'm pretty old school, I guess, and while I know about the gel cells, I wasn't familiar with the AGM batteries. If that is what you have, I withdraw my statement about a fully charged battery being 12.6V. That's for a flooded wet cell.

[Asshat]

I removed the wire from the R terminal on the starter and connected the battery. When I check voltage to the R terminal it has 12v; I don’t believe this is correct. It should only have 12v at the R terminal when the starter is turning - correct?

[Steeveedee]

That is correct. You found the cause of your dead battery! I'm not sure how the solenoid isn't pulling in the starter, though. Something is busted in there.

[Asshat]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

That is correct. You found the cause of your dead battery! I'm not sure how the solenoid isn't pulling in the starter, though. Something is busted in there.

I hope that’s it. New starter should be arriving today.

[Asshat]

New starter fixed it; probably didn’t need to buy a battery. Oh well, I got a spare.