Pete won’t start again

Try jumping the starter at the solenoid with a screwdriver? If that works would eliminate the starter and starter solenoid from your problems

 

I have this problem all the time with every truck I own. The cracks and pot holes in the road shake everything loose, starters, battery you name it. I gave up on the truck battery that have the nut that you tighten down because they'll never stay tight hitting the rough roads at 65. I put top post battery in and changed the cables.

Just the other day starter cable was loose at the starter and wouldn't start.

 

Check ignition wiring ...could be loose

 

My truck was having some trouble starting recently as well. Sometimes it wouldn't engage the starter, and the times where it did, it would kind of hesitate and act sluggish. Just cleaning the connections wasn't enough, I had to cut off one of the ends to the starter cable and crimp on a new one to fix the problem. In my case it was obvious, I could see the corrosion and frayed strands where the heat shrink tubing was exposed. This was one of the wires on the starter end, not the battery side of the cable.

 

Ha good question. I just start poke around till something sparks or moves!! You need to power to solenoid so cross main starter power to the small nut that gets signal from key switch. Might have to use to screwdrivers. This is shade tree mechanics at its best. Follow my advice at your own risk

 

Sorry so many typos. 2 screwdrivers. You need to get power to the terminal that is normal energized by the key switch. On mine I have to use two screwdrivers touching each other one on starter positive and other on solenoid energizer stud.