multiple zones get voltage, but don't turn on
I have an 8 zone system with a Toro controller. Zones 1 and 2 are in one valve box, 3,4,5 in another, and 6,7,8 in a third box (at least I'm 90% sure that is how it's setup). I haven't had to use the system much for the season due to the unending rain. But, now it's not working, at least not all of it. I've done some troubleshooting. Here is the situation.
At first nothing would come on. Using my voltmeter I could see voltages going to the zone I would turn on (at the control panel). Did some reason online, did some more checking with the ohm meter and such. Along the way, I noticed that if I turn on zone 1, zones 6,7,8 would also have voltage (~24v). Didn't have anymore time to work on it.
Today, I was reading some more and came across someone saying to manually turn on the master solenoid (even though it was getting voltage at the control panel). So, I did that manually at the valve, and then turned on zone 1 at the panel. Water came out of the heads! But, I tried 6,7,8 and no water came out. If I turn on zone 6, zones 6,7,8 would have voltage, but no water. If I turn on zone 1 or 2, then zones 6,7,8 have voltage (didn't try 3,4,5). If I turn off all the zones, then zones 1-5 read 0 volts, but 6,7,8 and master show 1.7 volts. Weird.
I find it strange that zones 6,7,8 don't turn on when there is voltage to all three of them, but I also don't understand how all of this works..
The system worked earlier in the spring when I turned it on, but haven't used it much since due to the steady rain. I haven't done any digging or anything near where there would be wires.
The weather is starting to dry up and so is my lawn! Any tips?