Starter Fuse Blew?

[Tommy]

This is a guess because I'm not familiar with the SPF setup. But as you say there is a starter relay, this is what I would expect.

• There should be a constant +12v going to the ignition switch
• When the switch is in the START position, there should be +12v going to the relay
• There should be a larger +12v wire also going to the relay
• When the wire from the ignition switch to the relay is energized, it should close a switch in the relay allowing +12v to flow from the larger wire on to the starter
• When the starter receives +12v from the relay (or from a jumper cable if you want to test the starter), it should crank

Starters need a lot more current to work than gauges. A poor battery cable connection can allow enough current flow to operate small things, but not the starter. Check both ends of the positive and negative cables for good connections.

[Ron61]

Tommy laid it out really well. If your relay is in an easy place to get to check the voltage from the switch to that winding. Those relays do have a tendency to burn the contacts in them as they pull a good sized charge when you first operate them. Also I have had relays that the winding went open on. If you want to eliminate the starter quickly and have a heavy lead, just clip 12 volts right onto the input to the starter and see if it turns over. Make sure the car is in neutral if you do this.

Ron

[Blas]

You said "...and I heard a little snap..."
Was this from under the dash or from under the hood?
(mechanical sounding or like a electrical short sounding snap?)

(edit) I note that you said "Starter Button" Is the button rated for the cars actual current draw thru it? You could have toasted it.

I assume you have power everywhere else in the car...headlights, wipers, horn, fans, etc?
If you have no other power on the car, you may have popped the main fuse on the drop down fuse panel... It is an 80 AMP fuse...(and the "snap" sound would have been from under the dash)

If you do have power everywhere except at the starter, it could be the starter solenoid on the firewall (if you still have it in place) or the solenoid on the starter itself....(and the "snap" sound would have been from under the hood)