Testing voltage between ignition and solenoid

[windyweekend]

I'm trying to test if there's voltage between my ignition and the solenoid. The starter won't crank or click so figured I'd start here but am not sure if I'm doing this correctly. I have a male/female connector from the ignition to the solenoid. I disconnected this, connected a probe to the switch end (not the solenoid end) of the wire and earthed it to the body. When I insert the key the multimeter reads 60mv and then starts rising up slowly. When I try starting the ignition it just keeps on rising to about 120mV+ until I release the key and take it out.

I would have thought I'd either get no reading or some kind of clear reading here, but all I get is this rising mV reading. Does anyone know what this is trying to tell me (other than I'm not smart enough to interpret it)? Will this test even work if I have a few relays between the switch and the solenoid? Am I doing this correctly?

Couple of pics attached in case they may make sense to anyone.

 

[telectrix]

mV readings are pointless. just a pain with digital meters. when you turn the ignition switch to "start" you should get 12V to the solenoid, check continuity from starter motor body to car body/battery -ve. on ohms. should get close to zero.

 

[windyweekend]

mV readings are pointless. just a pain with digital meters. when you turn the ignition switch to "start" you should get 12V to the solenoid, check continuity from starter motor body to car body/battery -ve. on ohms. should get close to zero.

Thanks telectrix. You were totally correct. I found the issue through continuity testing instead.

 

[brianmoooore]

When testing car electrical (rather than electronic) circuits, you will often fare better by leaving the multimeter on the shelf, and using a small 12 volt lamp (around 5W or so) connected to a couple of flying leads.

 

[telectrix]

When testing car electrical (rather than electronic) circuits, you will often fare better by leaving the multimeter on the shelf, and using a small 12 volt lamp (around 5W or so) connected to a couple of flying leads.

ok for checking volts, but no use for continuity unless a battery is involved.

 

[brianmoooore]

ok for checking volts, but no use for continuity unless a battery is involved.

Every car I've worked on has had one.

 

[telectrix]

oh that's what the black lump in the corner is. i often wondered.