Vehicle: '84 E150 351W
A couple times it wouldn't start so I had to tap on the starter and that worked. The van sits for sometimes a month between starts so I keep the battery fully charged. Tried starting it today and was just getting clicking from the starter solenoid so I first tried tapping the starter, that didn't work. I tried jumping the solenoid and now all I get is a buzzing noise from the coil. The solenoid is kind of stuffed in a hard to reach spot between the battery and fender so I hope I didn't touch something I wasn't supposed to and accidentally fried something. Does anyone have any idea what's wrong?

 

From what you describe, it sounds like there poor connections coming from the battery on down to where the cables attach to the engine and starter relay.

When was the last time they were removed and cleaned? If the connections between the battery post and the cable terminal are questionable and the charger is clamped to the terminal only, .the only thing getting charged is the vehicle, but not the battery.

Also , the starter relay on the fender well relies for its good ground on the sheet metal where it is mounted. If that is rusty and possibly corroded, it can produce what you are getting.

 

I replaced the starter a couple years ago and cleaned all the connections then. I keep the battery inside with a trickle charger, and I checked it with a multimeter; reading 12.96 volts. It's just strange how it went from clicking at the solenoid one second and now all it does is buzz at the ignition coil.

 

Poor connections can cause this type problem.

All connections starting at the battery on down to the engine need to be checked for good contact.
The only right way to do this is to remove them , clean them and reinstall them. Looking at them does nothing.
Don't forget to do the wires connecting to the vehicle sheet metal.