You're using the wrong terminology to describe the issue.
The starter motor CRANKS the engine, the same way that a hand crank used to CRANK the engine before there were electric starters.
The engine will FIRE/START/RUN if all systems are working properly.
The EFI circuit and ECU have nothing to do with the starter motor cranking. You can remove them from the truck and the starter motor will still crank the engine. The starter circuit is very simple on these trucks.
Yes you are correct. Late night and still working on terminology as the last 7 yrs were solely dedicated to medical terminology. Working on learning this car thing. corrected the prior post.
To the original post: Just because the contacts were replaced, doesn't mean it couldn't be the starter. The plunger could be worn and is getting hung up internally. This would cause a click sound when you turn the key. The test is to have a person turn the key and a helper tap the side of the starter with a hammer to free it up getting it to crank. Also, the starter motor could be getting hung up inside due to a bearing wearing out. Or a wire could have broken inside the windings of the motor and is hanging up.
Glad to hear you gave up on the shop that told you it was the computer.
A starter will not make the engine cut out all of the sudden. Best I can tell it only has happened once to you and the engine has not cranked at all since then?
I just go the diagnosis on this problem. It's a problem with a wire from the positve post on the battery. No problem with ECU, no problem with EFI Fuse, no problem with Fuel Pump, no problem with the Fuel Pump Relay, no problem with the starter. I paying a pretty penny for the time spent troubleshooting the problem, but I'm glad it's not the ECU.
By the way, some of you were right from the start to check the fusible link/wires at the battery positive post. Unfortunately, I'm in LA an the 80 is in SF.
