Rep Power: 0

Have a 98 dx. It will not start. When you turn the key it does nothing exept make a click. The battery is tested and is good. If you connect the positive side of jumper cables to the positive battery terminal and the other positive end to the starter and turn the key it starts right up. What would do this? Bad starter ? Or solenoid?

 
Rep Power: 103

i'm reading this as you are turning the key to make it crank. if that is what you are saying, you should inspect the cable you're bypassing with the jumper cable. that would be the obvious problem, no?

 
Rep Power: 230

Then you have a bad ground/disconnected ground.

Jumper to v+ means that v+ to starter works

Jumper ground to starter, indicates that the ground to the starter/ground from battery has poor continuity.

Check all grounds, make sure to unbolt them use sand paper to clean them and reinstall. There should be a battery ground to chassis, a battery ground to transmission/engine and a chassis ground to the head.

 
Rep Power: 519

I read this as your positive cable from the battery to the starter is the problem.



Like a bad connection.....and the cheap replacement battery terminals are great for bad connections where corroded wire is bolted to the terminal.

 
Rep Power: 0

Indeed it was the wire I was bypassing. It has a cheap connector like that as well. Took it apart cleaned well and installed and it fired right up. Thanks!