Hello. I turn the key and the starter solenoid clicks then nothing. So, it is most likely the starter solenoid is sticking, right? This is my thought, so I get a helper to turn the key while I hit the solenoid with a hammer, but via a wooden stick. We do this for a couple minutes, but it doesn't do anything more than just click. About to give up, I go in and turn the key off & on about five times just for the heck of it. Well, on the last try the starter actually did something; I would describe it as a single rotation turn-over sound, then it just starting making a spinning noise as though the gear in the starter was free-spinning. I turned the key off and it continued to spin. Then I turned the key again and "clunk", then nothing. No more dash lights. Then I could hear arching sounds and could see and smell the smoke. After raising the hood, I discover the main ground wire from the battery to the block is fried.

Why did this happen?

Okay, so before I submitted this thread I called into a parts store to get a price on the negative battery cable (btw, won't come in for another week). I gave the guy the same description as above and he said it was the ignition switch. Agree/disagree?

 

I disagree.

Vehicle battery cables are designed for high amperage loads, ie starting/charging. If corrosion builds up on a cable, this increases resistance and does not allow enough power to be drawn from the battery to start the engine. Starters require 100+ amps to turn our engines. Think of stepping on a garden hose when its on. Kink the hose, and less water flows.