When I turn the key I get one click. So I put a new battery in, didnt work. had the starter tested, its good, cleaned starter to make good connections and changed the battery terminals... any one know what might be the problem?

 

It is the starter. Had to replace mine a month ago. One day it will work and the next it won't...

 

When you say you changed the terminals do you mean the cables or just the connections? My 97 would not start and I found the main battery cable to the starter corroded internally. When I cut away the insulation it was green with corrosion inside. Those cables go bad and when they do it won't start. The 97 has two different designs of cables when/if you go to buy new cables take the actual truck build date with you it determines which design your truck uses.

 

sorry double post

 

I just changed the terminal connectors. Ill look into changing the whole cables tho. and maybe the starter to then. do you think if i just bang on the starter while trying to start it, it might work?

 

You could if the starter has a loose wire in it. Other then that no... Good luck