There just happens to be a starter/starter problem thread going on in the 5.2 forum as well.
I might be wrong (I often am) but I think maybe the reason the needle on the gauge (is it a voltmeter or as you typed an ammeter?) is dropping when you hit the key & nothing happens is that the starter motor is bad & it is drawing current but not turning.
One thing you can do to check is to CAREFULLY get under it & use a screw driver to jump across the two large terminals on the starter solenoid with a screw driver. If the starter doesn't turn, I believe that would mean you have a bad starter motor. It's always good to be CAREFUL when you do stuff like that: use good jackstands, make sure it is in P, set the brake, chock the wheels. . . .
I might be wrong (I often am) but I think maybe the reason the needle on the gauge (is it a voltmeter or as you typed an ammeter?) is dropping when you hit the key & nothing happens is that the starter motor is bad & it is drawing current but not turning.
One thing you can do to check is to CAREFULLY get under it & use a screw driver to jump across the two large terminals on the starter solenoid with a screw driver. If the starter doesn't turn, I believe that would mean you have a bad starter motor. It's always good to be CAREFUL when you do stuff like that: use good jackstands, make sure it is in P, set the brake, chock the wheels. . . .
