Jump solenoid with screwdriver

Just a couple wild guesses from 40+ years of experience...
1. the solenoid is bad.
2. the connections are not clean.


Make sure the ground wire from the battery is clean and tight to the frame.
Try jumping the two major solenoid connections with a HEAVY wire or (what most people use ( a screwdriver) and see if it starts...
If the engine turns over when you jump the connections, it means the solenoid is bad. If it does not you probably have bad connections at the battery + or - side.

If your battery has enough power to start the engine but the solenoid is bad, just touch the two large posts on the solenoid at the same time with a piece of metal like an old screwdriver.

Either your starter solenoid is bad, or your starter is shorted.

If, with the key on, the engine will crank with a screwdriver across the solenoid, but not crank with the key, you have a faulty solenoid. When you crank it with the key, that fires the fuel pump to get the fuel moving, but no jumping the solenoid with a screwdriver. Replace the solenoid and it will start and run.

either battery is not fully charged, or starter or solenoid is bad.
you can jump the solenoid with a screwdriver if you know how. if that starts it then the solenoid needs changed.

Then you need a ignition switch the elecrical part

could be a starter solenoid, located near battery, red positive cable goes to it, you can try jumping it, by jumping the two posts with a screwdriver with key on and then hit start button and see if it turns over or starts. if it does replace solenoid. otherwise sounds like a bad connection in the electrical, check all grounds

Easier to test in the car. Put starter back in the car. First, please try to jump start the car. If it will jump and start, starter is OK. If it will not jump start, go to the starter with a screwdriver. Use the screwdriver to short the big red-wire terminal to the small terminal on the solenoid. Be very careful not to short the big red-wire terminal to anything else, or you will get a big spark. If the battery, starter, and solenoid are good, the car will crank. If it does not crank, try again while jumping the battery to another car. If it cranks, the battery is low or the terminals need to be cleaned and tightened. If you have more questions, please reply.

Make sure you have a fully charged good battery and clean connections.

If you've applied 12VDC to the solenoid and it does nothing, not even click, then the solenoid is toast!