I have changed the starter and relay, but it still won't start.

All I get is a rapid chatter or growling noise. What else is there in the starting system?

I have had the charger on it for the last 5hrs also.

Please help, I am at my wits end.

Oh, this is on a 1988 Ford Ranger 4x4.

 

Make sure all electrical contacts are clean. I've had the following happen:

Bad contact on the battery terminal. A day after replacing the battery, the starter will not turn. It turned out to be corrosion on the inside surface of the terminals.

A loose stud on the starter relay that prevented the lugs from being properly tightened.

A loose stud on the starter itself that prevented the lug from being properly tightened.

There could very well be other sources of bad connections, so check them all.

 

I cleaned the battery posts and double checked all connections, the battery is reading 12.4v, it is still making the noise.

I jumped across the relay and even went straight from the battery to the starter lead at the relay, both no good.

Is there something else between the relay and the starter?

I didn't have this problem before the battery drained down due to lights left on. This just started after I charged the battery back up, I even tried jumping from my other truck.

It will start being pushed.

I am scratching my head here.

 

Do the lights go out when you try to start the engine? With good contacts and a good battery, the lights will dim when you crank. With a we3ak battery or bad connection, the lights can go out.

You can also pull out the starter and try to run it with your jumper cables. Be careful, as the current draw is huge (sparks), and the reverse torque can be very strong. This will verify that your new starter works.