Starter solenoid problem???

[falconmike]

Hi everyone, I am new to this site and I am excited to be here!!! I have reciently purchased a 1963 Ford Falcon Futura and today I ran into a problem. I went to start the Falcon and the solenoid clicked, I cleaned off the connections and it still clicks, the battery is fully charged, when I turn my lights on and turn the key it clicks and the lights go out? I am not sure how to jump the solenoid or I would try that. So, do you think I need a new solenoid, starter or something else??? Any help would be GREAT!!! Thank you!

[phantom_smack]

If the lights went out you have a bad connection or a bad battery that drops voltage under load.To jump the solenoid use a jumper from the big terminal (from the battery) to the little terminal.

[falconmike]

When you say a bad connection, do you mean one of the battery cables might be bad or loose at the battery, because the battery tested good with a full charge. I did jump the solenoid and I still get a click, I used one of those remote starter switches. Could it be the starter is gone, it looks like an original starter its real rusty, is there a way to check the starter?

[phantom_smack]

I'm leaning toward a bad battery cable or cable end.you could remove the starter and jump it using jumper cables or take it to a parts store.I guess you could use jumper cables and do it on the car but its not the safest.Only once I have seen a starter soooo rusted it wasnt making good contact to the motor(not grounding to the block)but it was in a boat and it would not explain the headlamps going out when it clicks.

[falconmike]

The battery cables look pretty rough, I'll try changing those first, then move to the starter if those are O.K. Let me ask you, when you jump the solenoid and you hook up to one of the little terminals do you unplug the small plug or do you leave that connected and connect to it also? thanks for the info!

[phantom_smack]

yea disconnect it cause it will be in your way ,it is the feed from the ignition switch.