Well...a few days ago i started my 89 civic si with a y8 motor at work and came home..shut the car off...went inside...came oout about 2 hours later and tried to start my car and ill i heard was the starter click...i thought it was a dead batt so i charged it and tried again still just clicking....i then thought it was the starter so i rolled it down my driveway, popped the clutch and boom it started....i just got done puttingin new starter...went to try it and nothing just clicks every one or two turns of key....wut can be the possible causes that the starter will not engauge fully...or just crank over...let me know thanks

 

Most likely cause is that the battery cables are corroded or loose. The OEM cables are just crimped on and the cables tend to get pretty well corroded, over time. I've repaired the cables, but all things considered, it would have been better to just get some new cables, to replace the old ones. That's what I ultimately had to do, anyway.

It could just be the posts or terminals on the battery are loose or corroded. You can start with taking the terminals off and cleaning them with some sandpaper, a wire brush or something like that. They make a terminal cleaning tool, but the brushes tend to get wiped out after the first terminal or two.

 

If starter clicks but no crank sometimes the pinion gets stuck. Although you purchased a rebuilt...they sometimes are defective also. Watch for loose ground cable on tranny. You may have touched it when swapping starters, Thats hooked up to your battery direct.

 

Did you test the oem starter at autozone for free testing or did you just buy one assuming it was that? Did you test the new one too? If all pass and engages? I suspect a ignition coil is at fault inside the distributor. Not sure unless a video is provided.

 

check your clutch switch and make sure that the little peice of rubber is in the pedal to push the switch down