i have an issue, i turned my key and ................ click. that's it. nothing more. Batt is great, i checked. i look at the starter solenoid, and run power strait to the starter. .............. click.
so i twist the key a bunch more times and the truck starts great! i pull the starter, and go buy another. install it and we are good to go. then about 3 months later ................. click! check the starter solinoide again and jump the posts so power is running to the starter ......... click
now i figure the old starter is under warranty so lets pull it out again and see if i got a bad starter.
now on my 3rd starter (original, and 2 new) and ................. click
when i turn the key a bunch of times it will finally engage. but sometimes it turns a rotation and then quits. when it finally does engage, it cranks fine and starts right up.
what is your guess? ever herd of this before?

 

Happened to my truck once. The starter (stock) was the culprit where it takes 4-6 tries to get the truck started. Changed to a OEM Starter (brand new) so far, no problem at all.

Also, my distributor also happened to play a part.

Good luck on your case nonetheless.

 

how?

 

Check the cables to the starter for corrosion. The corrosion wicks up the cable and causes your symptoms. Find a copper nut for the terminal on the starter.

 

turns out a new batt fixed it.
here is how it happened. the bat had plates shorting out. it was not just old and worn out battery, it was a faulty one. sometimes it had a full 700 cca and sometimes it has about 2 amps. enough to engage the relay buy wouldn't crank the engine at all. not evin a little. sounded like a bad starter but after 3 starters i was sure it was something else.
freak battery issue.

 

Good job. That is a hard one to find.