So ive been reading and reading and reading and trying and trying and trying ...

when i turn the key fuel pump kicks in, turn it again and ONE CLICK then nothing.
i checked my grounds, they were fine, i was missing a tranny ground but added one and still nothing, tried another battery, but nothing.

any other ideas? i dont wanna spend on a new starter if thats not my problem.

any help would be helpful thanks!

 

Try giving the starter a smack with a hammer and trying again.

Usually a weak battery the solenoid will click fast a few times then slow down.

Maybe putting the car in neutral, and jumping from the battery to starter to verify it operates, or taking it to a parts store and get them to bench test it.

 

what do you mean by jumping the battery to starter?

 

Pull off the small black and white wire and use a jumper wire from the pin on the starter to b+ terminal. If it doesn't turn over your starter is pooched. MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN NEUTRAL!

 

k i did that with the starter in and out, it didnt start the car just ticked and when i took it out and did it, the rod comes out but the actual teeth dont spin. so im assuming the starter is as u would put it POOCHED?

 

Yep

 

If it's original denso it's probably just the contacts that are bad. You can confirm this by hammering the starter with something solid before trying to start it when it's acting up(like snobordboy said).

 

Replace the starter. had the same issue on my 93vtec prelude

 

just try tapping on the starter as someone trying to start the car... usually that will get it to start up.. starters are not that expensive so its not a huge deal to buy one

 

Replace the starter. If by any means it still doesn't start, return it and refund. By your description, it definitely sounds like the problem is the starter.

 

Can anyone answer this.
H22a1 obd2 that came factory in a 1996 lude. The engine itself has 95 stamped on it. I did read that when they made an engine in 95 it didn't get into a car until 96. I bought the engine I am describing and trying to make sure it's obd2, it does have smaller dizzy plug and 4 wire o2 also the third mounting hole for the dizzy is a perfect circle but I'm wondering if my engine says 95 could it still be obd2

 

I'll say check the oil pump and check if crank sensor plug is there connected and not sure if obd2 had internal coil in that year but that I know of, internal coil is obd1 and obd2 is external coil. Coil as ignition coil from distributor.

 

Yes, usually the engine stamp is the year before because it takes a while to get from engine creation to end user.

 

It's not the starter. It's a seized engine.