alrighty ive done the research and im pretty sure its my starter. It would seem like it was turning over slowly but it would start up. now it will just do nothing, or maybe just a little feeble attempt at trying to ever so slighlty turn over then give up.

Ive ruled out the battery being bad, it was bought in april, headlights still are bright etc, and I just tried getting someone to jump me tonight.

Im in college and dont have the money to take to a shop, I have limited tools and no multimeter to test other causes so this really sucks,

any ideas what might get me going again without killing what money i have?

 

Do you hear a clicking when you turn it over? I bet if you get under the truck and hit it with a hammer (starter) you could get it to start. It could be the bushings going bad in it. Check the battery wires to the starter, and the negative. Any other electrical issues??

 

How about borrow meter / rent from auto parts store? You can buy a meter for under $20 at Harbor Freight ($4.99), WalMart, etc. Big wire on starter comes from battery, should be battery voltage always. Small wire comes from starter relay, it is +12 volts when key is turned, should make a click as solenoid engages, which moves starter teeth into contact with engine flywheel and switches power on inside starter. The starter draws 300 amps, so any dirty, corroded, or loose conection from starter back to positive battery posts, and negative battery post to frame ground (follow black cable down near bottom or radiator below battery).

On the trail with no meter a tail or trailer light bulb and wire can be used to search for voltage - bright = normal volts, dim = low, and no light = very low or none.

Agree on tap (like you were starting a nail, not driving it home) the starter to break loose dirty connection on solenoid.

With no tools you'll be looking at fun to change starter if you need to get one (junkyard, dismantler, auto parts store, local starter rebuild shop). Some auto parts stores loan tool sets. Places like Lowe's and Home Depot and Harbor Freight have sales on basic tool kits.

If you are away at college, with modest tools, hope you are keeping up with services on the beast.

 

youre gonna need a meter to track this down.

if it sounds like its barely trying to turn over, ill assume the solenoid is actually clicking and youre getting power to the starter. my next guess is going to be a bad/loose ground, but youd need a meter to most effectively figure that out.