My 91 pickup with the 3vze is giving me some trouble. The issue started with an intermittent click when trying to start the truck, I could “rock” the key and it would fire right up. The truck now only clicks and it’s a very loud click, you can feel it. Pulled starter it tested good, ign fuse is good. Getting 12.8 volts to starter, and to my knowledge these don’t have a starter relay? I’d appreciate any suggestions

 

measuring 12.8 volts at the starter is only 1/2 of the equation. even with a bad connection you can measure good voltage, but not enough current flows to do the work of turning the starter. Also, if you have a bad ground you can still read good voltage, but no cranky cranky.
rad4runner has some great writeups about the starting circuits and what to look for if yours came from the factory with improper wiring.

 

Wound up calling my buddies dad who has rebuilt many starters, the hot terminal on both starters (I had gotten one from a junkyard) were worn out so the plunger wasn’t making full contact. Did some combining and the truck fires right up now