I dont know if this is the right area for this or not, but i need some help. Its a 97 4.6L. The truck wouldnt start, and i had to jiggle the positive wire on the starter(the cable is practically shot) just to get enough connection for it to start. Well, now i finally got around to replacing the starter, and when i tried to start it back up, theres a clicking noise in the engine bay, right up next to the battery. Its a pretty rapid click. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

 

The clicking would be coming from the starter relay. Make sure you reconnected ALL your ground connections at the starter.

 

there was 3 cables. a positive, negative and another smaller red wire. I hooked up all three in the same location as they were before. Whats the smaller cable? and is it possible for the relay to be bad? Where is the starter relay at also?

 

The small wire is the 12v supply to the solenoid, the 12v comes from the start relay which I believe is on the passenger side firewall.
If you are getting a rapid clicking I would first check your battery and clean the battery terminals. Then check the wiring.

 

Where would the rapid clicking be coming from? The starter relay? Can the relay go bad? The connections are all fine, including the battery terminals.

 

The rapid clicking is either the relay or the solenoid(more than likely the solenoid) chattering due to low voltage.

 

how can i tell if either of those are bad? Could it be the battery?