Well, the brakes got done...a whopping $1,200...I am clean broke, but at least now...I have brakes. Everything's going to be alright...right?

wrong

I take her for a quick spin down to the gas station to fill up the tank. I go to start it, when the starter turns over really slowly, and the tach goes to redline. Hmm..weird symptom, so I kill it and take out the key. I'm pretty sure the battery's fine, because my friend put a BRAND NEW ONE in before giving it to me.

I turn the key again...this time it turns over once (really slowly), then stops.

I turn the key again...just a click. f*ck!

I pop the hood, check the battery terminals and spend the next 10 mins jiggling all possible wires, clamps, attachment points, etc. No start.

I have the gas station attendant hook up jumper cables, let the battery charge for a few mins (while his truck is on and mine is off), then try starting my truck again (while his is running).

No dice. Just a click.

I can't do anythign about it, and everyone I know is asleep or not answering their phones. I push the truck into a parking spot and leave it there.

I think what happened is that the starter just died on me. If it clicks, then it makes me think the starter relay works fine. It's the starter that I think is f'd.

Any tips/suggestions?

I also flipped through the chiltons, and they say it's either the starter relay contacts, starter motor electrical contacts, or the starter motor itself. I'll have to check it out tomorrow under sunlight.

 

The battery seems to be ok...I think it's the starter.

Where is the starter located under the hood?

 

What year and motor size?

 

1991 3.0 v6, 2wd

I went out again today with another car, jumped the batteries, and the truck did the same thing:
-turn the key, it turned over REALLY slowly, then stopped
-turn the key, it made a click
-turn the key, it made a click

So my guess is the starter motor died. Autozone sells rebuilt starters for ~$140, so I'm going to try and pick one up today, head over w' jackstands and a socket set, then just swap out the starter myself.

 

Oh, and how many bolts is it? I took a peek under the hood and could see 3...does that sound right? Or am I missing something?

 

u might get it started by rocking the truck in park... and then tryin to start it... just to get it home.

 

Well it's done...I got it home and I really don't know what's wrong. My guess is that it could have been the starter spline stuck against the flywheel, or just a rusty/frozen part somewhere under the hood.

I really, just can't pinpoint where it is without buying new parts and narrowing the issue down. So I'm just going to drive it around for a couple weeks and hopefully it won't happen again. If it does, I'll evaluate under whatever circumstances it was under and take it from there.