Start throwing ideas at me please

[ivan12]

Need some help guys. I'll try to keep it as short as possible. 2 weeks ago car was acting fine, then I started noticing my started would sometimes lag a second or two before cranking which led me to believe my starter was on it's way out. In the same week, the car would make a click then turn over. Then one day when I hit the key all I got were clicks, so I swapped out the battery thinking it was that. The car clicked once and then turned over, so I thought problem fixed. The following morning same thing happened just clicks even with a near new optima. Took the starter off, took it to Autozone to have it tested, turned out that the gear wasn't coming out freely. So I replaced the starter, cleaned the connections and mounting points and again all I got were clicks. Then I took off the Alt. to get it tested, before I took it, I hit the key and the car wanted to turn over while the alt. was off. Took it to AZ and it passed with flying colors. Put it back on and got the clicks again. Asked my brother to let me borrow his alt. and I got clicks as well. I push started the car because I got tired of riding my bike back and forth and noticed my volt gauge showed about 1/3 of power then would go back to half when it was at op. temp. Picked up an ignition switch, swapped it out and nothing. I replaced my battery terminals, checked all my grounds and checked for corrosion. I finally decided to take to my mechanic and he hasn't found anything. Any ideas? Anything

 

[94-427]

ford mounts the starter solenoid on the starter, U bough a starter from Auto Zone strong possibility starter no good right out of box [never buy anthing eltrical from auto zone]
the click U are hearing should be the starter solenoid clicking but starter not engaging. bad battery cables can also give this realy look at ground side

 

[ivan12]

I got word from the shop a couple of minutes ago, they're saying there's power going to the starter so it's most likely a bad solenoid. Hopefully that's the problem