Could I have ruined something during the compression test I just did? I hear a click under the dash each time I turn the key, but the starter doesn't try and turn the motor.

 

Battery? Connections? If you have a voltmeter/multimeter check battery voltage with attemt to start, poor man's load test.

 

The behavior persists when connected to my other car with jumper cables, and I tried with the other car off and running.

 

Have you been working on the engine or did it just catch the symptom? If you've been working on it, it could have a loose ground.

 

tap on your starter and see what it does, i have what would seem to be the same problem last week

 

Seems to mean not the battery, so, connections?

 

Either faulty grounds, dirty connections. Those are free to check, and easy to do(Clean them up, tighten all connections). If the problem persist, then look towards your starter going. Pull your starter, and guess wht? It should be free to check at your local auto store. Good luck.

 

The grounds were fine when the car ran and while I was doing the test. I checked the negative battery terminal ground with my multi-meter and it was good. I am making the assumption that the others are OK.

I took the intake off to find one of the cap bolts I dropped onto the transmission. I put it back on after the test, fully anticipating to drive it away, but it doesn't try to turn over. I checked fuses, and they are all OK.

If the relay is fried, would it still click? Will a starter die without any warning?

edit: you are probably wondering why was I removing the cap. I wanted to see if the points on the cap were worn to determine if I should replace cap and rotor. I put those parts back. I'm not getting that far if the starter isn't turning, though, right?

 

Sounds like the contact in the starter. I've had to have mine replaced twice now (just the contact, not the whole starter).

 

check for voltage to starter if has voltage then make sure it has good ground. should ground through case. if all is good then you have a bad starter. if you do not get power to starter then you have electrical system problem then you need to chase the wires till you find the cuilprit.

 

good luck

 

also doing a compression test you have to crank the vehicle correct. so you may have had a weak starter and by cranking over and over it finally gave out. just a possibility?

 

i pulled the starter and cleaned up the copper contacts with sandpaper. when i apply 12 volts using the battery or a charger, nothing happens. the helms says i should hear the solenoid click, but not much else in the case that nothing happens. i'm going to dig into the dealer service manual now.

 

i'm an idiot. i didn't have the solenoid wire plugged in. it works. thanks for all your help, guys.

 

Thanks for finishing and posting the answer. Threads are not as helpful without an ending.

 

X2^^^

Props to the OP for posting the solution, even though it was his silly mistake, most would not have. 94

 

yeah you gotta hook up all the wires. no biggie at least it was a cheap fix.