I cleaned all my battery wire cable ends and battery + and - posts today. When i put everything back together and turned the key i got nothing. The battery is fine. I checked the starter by using a jumper cable to bypass solenoid and it turned over. Also noticed that when i was tightening the positive lead to the solenoid that the casing was loose. a side question~would a bad solenoid prevent the clock from working? Thanks

 

You can indeed change only the Solenoid. However, there is another test missing and that is to jumper a posative from the battery to the Solenoid Terminal. If the Solenoid does not engage that could indicate a solenoid problem.

It would have been nice to know what year and Model you have.
On mine there is a wire Junction Block in front of the Battery on the Fender Well that you can use with a short Jumper Wire to test the starter.
Yours may not have that or have it located somewhere else.

If jumper wiring the Solenoid works you most likely have a Netural Safety Switch or Ignition Switch Problem.

I thought the Clock ran all the time so I dought if it is wired to the Starter but I cannot say for sure.