No such thing as a dumb question....right?

I believe I need a new starter solenoid.

Is a solenoid and a relay the same thing but 2 different terms?

 

Like this ? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Starter-Relay-S ... b7&vxp=mtr and you get both words. The solenoid is part of the electromagnet inside it.

 

Same basic principal yeah, electromagnetic switch & people do interchange the names sometimes. Technically we have starter relays as they just "relay" the current from the battery to the starter, but it gets called a solenoid as well because on cars with pre-engage starters it is actually a solenoid (it moves a plunger to mechanically engage the starter with the flywheel).

What's the problem, and how have you tested the relay/solenoid whatever you wanna call it? (you should get 12v to the small wires when you press the starter button, and if you do then it should show zero resistance across the large terminals when starter button pressed.)

 

I'll take that as a yes then. Thanks guys.

 

lol it is indeed a yes. You don't just get the answer here, you get the life story of a solenoid as well