as above, i feked up on car other day left exhaust loose on starter motor forgot about it and went to start it. a puff of smoke came from starter area. ive got all lights, electrics working. go to start it and it just clicks. tested te live from alternator and its fine also fuses seem intact. whats next. any ideas which fuse/relay is for starter

 

car?

 

It seems likely that you have cooked the solenoid wire, the wire that runs from the ignition switch to the starter, get a length of wire and take straight from the battery side of the solenoid to the terminal onto which the ignition feed goes, even a slightly duff connection here will do what you want.
I did a escort diesel a few months back, exactly the same problem, the guy had bought new starter and battery, and was getting 12V, so was confused, this dropped to 7 volts under load, ad the bodged on crimp connector eye terminal has serious high resistance.
One soldered connector later, it started and has done so ever since, he reports it's never been that good beofre!!
tabetha

 

thanks again tabetha . i disconnected the battery and wires from starter give em a little clean, put them back and it started straight away lol when i made that mistake must of loosened connection or somethin

cheers