Starter/relay/alternator Problem?

[White_Mud]

Ok, This is what is going on and has happend.

 

Truck 2001 silverado 4x4 5.3L Engine (all stock)

 

a few days ago out of the blue my Voltage meter Spikes up to nearly 17v for about 10 min then goes back to normal. Next day Im assuming alternator went bad and my truck started running straight off my battery everything dimmed out and it eventually died. So I left it sitting figuring my alternator was dead and had to replace it. I went out to my truck a good couple hours later just to see if it would start and it cranked over but it was weak so I figured yeah battery is toast also. So Next day I threw a GOOD battery I had in the truck. And I was hopeing with what juice was in the battery I could run down the street to an autozone to have the alternator checked.

well what happend was the truck turned over about 3 times then stopped turning over and now the starter relay I believe just clicks once when I turn the key to start it... Everything powers up. Just nothing cranks over.

 

The relay is still good if it clicks isnt it?

and If so Could I have killed my starter by trying to start it with a low batt?

or is there just something stupid im missing here?

 

Sorry for writing a Novel but I just really need my truck running