I just got done helping a friend put a stock GE engine in his 99 GS. The car was bought with a blown engine, cranked but had ****ty compression and made a crazy bottom end noise. Pulled the engine, swapped in the new one, and the starter won't crank. One light click that's it. Checked the wiring to the starter, all tight, clip is on. Moved the ground from the body to the tranny around to try and get a better connection, nothing. Checked and there is power at the main wire off the battery coming into the starter. I'd say it's bad but it worked up until the swap. Any ideas what else to check? I can't seem to find if there are any other grounds to check.

 

Good luck, Mine is doing the same thing. Only a tick coming form the starter. I'm going to replace it within the next few days. You may also clean the battery terminals as well. Mine had a light film on both terminal posts..Clean it very well and made sure the terminals were very snug. The problem stated again after approx 3 weeks. Mine is a 99 GS300 as well.

 

supz... test the starter.... if good... check the cable....i tot mine was a starter.. but i swap it and still does the same things.. then i put new cable and its fine.....cable might be corroided...hope this help.....check all the wires too...

 

It's most likely going to be the solenoid. I've already had 2 starters mess up because of the solenoid. So I just shelled out for a new one with lifetime warranty. Also make sure to clean your terminals, or maybe the battery is low? Good Luck

 

Thanks for the help, ended up biting the bullet, pulled the starter out of my supra since no one local had one. Swapped it and it cranks fine now. At least I'm getting a brand new oem starter for my sup out of the deal.