shorting starter motor

[PaRaDoX]

hey guys, just finished putting my engine back together yesterday
(did headgaskets, changed heads valve springs etc)

now i put it back together properly...... and i didnt even touch the starter motor/wiring for the starter motor and u crank it over and it sounds like the solonoid is freezing then the relay in the fuse box goes crazy

only things i can think of is
1) starter motor is dead (grrr this is the 3d the car has had this year)
2) theres a wiring short somewhere but ive tripple checked the wires and i cant see any
3) something on the belt is jammed

but it dosnt sound like the starter is even engauging..its just driving me up the wall im gonna put a spanner thru the windscreen soon

the first starter motor just died like they do, u could get it spinning by cranking it and banging it with a hammer but not enough to start it
the second starter motor didnt sound healthy since i put it in (2nd hand one) and died 2 months later
the third one sounded like a industrial numatic drill (really healthy) and started the car really easily so it shouldnt be dead

as far as i know nothing dripped down onto it that could cause a short but i could be wrong

any suggestions would be awesome as im about to explode and destroy my car!!!!!

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

can you try another (known good) battery? can you try running a wire directly from the +batt terminal to the spade lug on the solenoid on the starter motor. (Ive heard a screwdriver can be used to short the fat +12v wire for the actual starter and the spade lug on the solenoid!)

[PaRaDoX]

nah man battery is @ 12.3V, battery is less than a year old its a 550CCA 11 plate not a battery issue i dont believe

but you Gave me a idea.... where exactly does the spade terminal wire run??? could i have crushedand shorted the wire when i took the engine apart???

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

well as the crow flies, it goes from the starter motor via the starter relay to the starter switch.

[PaRaDoX]

hrmmm... its gotta be the terminal wiring
whats the wiring in terms of polarity????

big fat wire = 12v??
skinny wire = accessory 12V?

and the whole things grounded?

[PaRaDoX]

can you try another (known good) battery? can you try running a wire directly from the +batt terminal to the spade lug on the solenoid on the starter motor. (Ive heard a screwdriver can be used to short the fat +12v wire for the actual starter and the spade lug on the solenoid!)

i take it back...... you were right.. battery was at fault.. the clicking sound was fuel pump relay (fuel pump not going on due to lack of power)

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

Its sweet when the solution is a lesser evil! I'm looking at lifter/valve train tinkering soon, wish it was the battery!
Left my oil change too late