bad starter relay?

I have constant power here.


No power here.



No power here.



With ignition on.

FBO ignition module lit up when key on. Dome light goes on, running lights come on, head lights do not. Didn't check voltage to head lights. They could both be no good.

HOW THIS WORKS

The great big stud hooks to battery and is one of the contacts. It ALWAYS has power and IS NOT fused

The other big bare "square" contact leads down to the starter solenoid,and is the other relay contact. It should be "hot" when starting

Either one of the small "push on" flag terminals goes to the yellowish (most years) "start" wire. This is hot when the key is twisted to "start."

The remaining small flag terminal goes to the clutch switch (stick car) or the neutral safety switch (automatic)

That remaining terminal is grounded by the neutral switch in park or neutral, or by the clutch switch when it is depressed.

The two small flag terminals are the relay magnetic coil

HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT

Find the "start" wire. Clip a light or meter to it and twist key to start. Should get battery voltage when doing so. If starter will not engage..........

Clip your meter to the big square terminal. Should have battery voltage when key in start if not........

Wiggle the shifter through park/ neutral and see if you get a click or two. If not, move your meter to the flag terminal leading to the neutral safety switch. Backprobe the connector, do not disconnect anything. This should NOT show voltage when cranking. If it does, there is problems with that wire, or the neutral safety switch or it's adjustment or the shifter linkage.

If this shows nothing, you likely have a bad relay

FURTHER

Sometimes it is simpler to .............

Use pliers/ screwdriver/ coin to jumper across the big stud and big square terminal. MAKE CERTAIN transmission is in neutral or park. It should crank.

Use a test clip lead(s). Disconnect both small flag terminals. Clip a wire to that terminal and clip other end to ground. Jumper from battery power to the remaining small flag terminal Starter should engage. If not the relay is bad

The big terminal doesn't have a choice, i get that.

Are these the symptoms of a bad starter relay?

Or something else?

You did not say under what conditions you are measuring this. Re-read my post. Are "what" symptoms of a bad relay?"

Let me go through what you said, a lot to take in, really appreciate your input. I'll update when it's resolved. Hopefully.

It is not that hard. It's a simple relay. The two large terminals are the contacts, and the BIG stud is also used for a junction point. The two small "push on" terminals are the coil

The coil is activated by the yellow wire from the key. It won't work unless the remaining small terminal is grounded by the neutral switch. Then the contacts close

The large terminal is battery, that contact closes and sends power to the "square" one and that feeds down to the starter solenoid, and activates the starter.

Thanks for explaining that to me. I grounded the brown wire to the battery, it now turns over.

If that worked its because you have lost the Neutral or clutch safety switch. I have an earlier auto trans in my B body than I thought I had and it had the incorrect NSS.

OK is this stick or automatic? If it's auto, hook everything up "normal" and hold the key to start while you wiggle the shifter through P-R-N and see if it tries to start or clicks. If so, likely the shift linkage is out of adjustment. If not likely bad brown wire or bad neutral switch

If it's a stick then look for trouble in the wire and to the clutch safety switch. Either stick or auto, that wire is grounded by the switch

Auto. Ordered a new plug for the Trans.