Stereo & Electronics - Help with non-LS1 that wont turn over!

1994 Ford F150 XLT:

Truck has been sitting for a couple of years. I charged the battery, battery shows 11.7 Volts, turn key and all I can hear is ONE loud click(sounds like it is coming out of a black box, maybe a relay but now sure what it is, that has power/ground running in and out of it) on the passenger fender under the hood. The starter makes no attempt to turn.

Any ideas? What is this click coming from? Could this thing on the fender be bad and not allow current to make it to the starter when I turn the key?

Thanks all in advance!

That thing on the fender is probably the starter solenoid. It's like a big relay that transfers power to the starter. Ford has mounted them on the inner fender since Moses was a boy and it makes them easy to bypass if they burn out - just turn the ignition on and use a heavy-duty cable such as a booster cable to jump the terminal connected to the battery to the one going to the starter.

However, 11.7 volts doesn't sound very good for a battery that's just been charged. You might want to see if it will start with a boost and then consider replacing the battery.

That thing on the fender is probably the starter solenoid. It's like a big relay that transfers power to the starter. Ford has mounted them on the inner fender since Moses was a boy and it makes them easy to bypass if they burn out - just turn the ignition on and use a heavy-duty cable such as a booster cable to jump the terminal connected to the battery to the one going to the starter.

However, 11.7 volts doesn't sound very good for a battery that's just been charged. You might want to see if it will start with a boost and then consider replacing the battery.

Correct, I didnt charge it fully. I just wanted to get some juice in it and try to minimize variables.

So this solenoid on the fender wall has two connections bolted to it. Do I just short the two with the key in on position? Is this solenoid cheap? Should I just replace it?

THanks for the helP!