95 gt 5 speed, just does a single click, battery has 12.3 volts and when i try to start it drops to 11.2 volts, so it is not the battery. pulled the starter out and had it tested, works fine when it is out of the car. put it back in still will not work. ran a jumper from the starter to the battery and just clicks. could this be a bad ground? or what else should i check?

 

i would check your cables and connections. i had the same problem in the Beretta. the ground came lose is all it was.
good luck.

 

i forgot to mention that i put new battery terminals on, thinking that might be the problem but it still will not start.

 

Is the motor free or maybe its locked up?

 

alternator going?

 

the engine is not locked up.
how do i check the alternator if it does not start? and how would the alternator keep it from starting?

 

your alternator recharges your battery. hence if the alternator is bad then its not keeping your battery at its full potential

 

the alternator doesnt have a damn thing to do with it. If the battery is fully charged the alternator doesnt even have to be in the car in order for it to start. Clean all the connection including the soleniod these are teh most important connections. make sure theyre all tight and it should work. if it doesnt just get a new starter theyre relatively cheap. Make sure the battery is fully charged though, then do all of your tests.

 

ok wtf is the alternator for then?
dont patronize me b/c i happen to know for a fact that the alternator recharges the battery.
you need to get educated

 

the main function of the alternator is to convert power from the gasoline engine that drives you along the road, to electrical energy to keep the battery in tip-top condition.