coachgeo
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long test leads on one battery at one end and, volt meter on other. when hit red button (power on) the 1st of the the two battery (no 12v stuff on it/ older batt) dances between 12v and 10v when trying to start it. The 2cnd battery new in April (also 12v side) does same 12v-10v with occasional 4 & 5v hmmm. its a NEW larger batteryYes you would connect to the large + and - leads at the solenoid and the front of the starter motor where the main ground strap is located.
What general said IRT the load test. pushing the start button is a load test, just not a full capacity one, but it satisfies the basic requirement, "voltage is not good unless it is good while supplying a load"
If the voltage falls on its face when you push the start button(load test), you need to step back thru the circuit and see where it is dropping and either fix the bad connection or the bad battery. If it doesn't drop, it isn't being loaded which indicates a starter/solenoid not completing a circuit.
You can also help isolate a bad connection with the meter wired in parallel with the current path. Say one lead on the battery + and the other lead on the starter solenoid + and measure the voltage developed across the circuit resistance when you pull current, attempt to start... You can do the same thing on the ground path, battery - to starter motor ground point...
What is "on its face"? couple volts or half or more of volts?
Odd thing though is on first attempt at this... one clunk, as it tried to turn engine, then it started instantly like normal. ran it for about 10min checking stuff. shut it down. tried again several times.... same thing. clunk stop... clunk stop as you hold the red button. banged on parts of starter... no difference.
where does ground strap attach. so tight in there cant find it.
push of red button turns off the Trans keypad. Otherwise it looks normal