96 Mazda B4000 4.0 V6 (pretty much a ford ranger) wont start. What happened, drove it to work and it started up normally. Went to work, when I tried to start it later it made the one click noise. Changed starter, which the newer ones now have the male end, they have a post and a wire that you have to cut the exhisting wire and crimp it. Didnt have a crimping tool, so I just took the wire and wrapped it around the post ensuring none of the wires are touching anything else. Nothing. Changed solonoid, it was only $18 so its not going to hurt. Nothing. Have tried jumping it, and it still clicks only one time.

I am leaking oil a little bit, but dipstick is still showing I have plenty in there, and this may or may not be relevant, but the day before after the truck cooled down, I raised the hood and rinsed the dirt off everything with a garden hose, it was pretty dusty under my hood. Im totally stumped. Im not a mechanic, only other thing I could think of could be battery, but Ive tried jumping it in case my battery wasnt giving enough amps. Ideas?

 

Did you check the battery cables at the battery, and the ground at the engine?

 

sounds like excessive resistance in a batt cable to me. Can you turn the engine by hand? Worked with a guy who sold somebody a starter for the same thing just to find out the engine was locked up.