Turn key engine will not turn over,only hear a clicking sound . could it be the starter? What can I do to figure out the problem?

could be battery . It needs a huge amount of charge to turn over the starter motor. It may work the headlights but be unable to turn the starter motor.
Suggest get battery tested at a battery seller to see if battery is really ok .
The click is most likely the solenoid on the starter motor clicking on.
You might be able to get someone to run jumper leads
Note +ve to + ve and negative to negative !
from their car while the engine is running and their car is not moving !
Wait 10 minutes
Then try to crank over your car engine .

I jump started a 4wd vehicle a month ago from my car and it took about 10 minutes to get enough charge in it to crank over the engine !

If you are hearing clicks when you turn the key and if you know where the starter is, get under there and tap it with a hammer. Sounds archaic but when they start to go bad they stick. When you turn the key, the starter acts like the old hand crank you see in movies to spin the engine. When you release the key the starter believes it did its job and goes dormant. Anyway, if you hear clicks when you turn the key and if it starts after hitting it that is likely your problem.

The starter relay may be bad or the starter motor may be bad. Poor battery cable connections will do it too.

Do you hear a slight click coming from the engine area??? If not your starter selenoid is bad, and needs replacement. If you do hear a click but the engine is having trouble or slow very slow time turning, then it's your battery. If you hear your starter click, but no turn, then its your starter not turning over. If your instrument lights dim out by alot when trying to turn, then it still your battery which is drain. The battery doesn't completly need to be drain in order for your horn, lights to not work, It could be your battery simply drain and doesn't have enough cranking power to roll over the starter. But in this case issue description, It sounds like it is the starter. Could take it out and bring it to autozone and have them test it out.

When you turn the key you hear a single click and you can not hear the starter cranking the engine over? After several attempts the starter finally cranks the engine over?

If so sounds like the starter is going bad.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

clicking sound heard? starts fast then slows down as you crank over engine?ok try this --at the starter there is an electrical connection -- B+red wire and a smaller wire make sure these connections are tight. if ok proceed to next step--if you hear a low clicking sound when you turn the key and when trying to jump start the car still hear a click sound have someone tap on starter while you try to start it --- if car starts the starter solenoid is bad,anything more please write me back, Lee Davidian

hi, if when you turn the key nothing happens or you just hear a faint clicking sound then this indicates that the starter motor needs replacing.

If you open the bonnet and get someone to turn the key to start the car you might hear a clicking sound coming from the starter motor if you hear this then this indicates the starter motor needs replacing, if on the other hand you hear nothing at all then you need to check all the wires going to the starter.
Also check the earth wires coming from the battery check they are all connected where they earth out on the body of the car and where it connects to the engine.

You could also try giving the starter motor a few hard hits with a hammer this usually gets it working for a few times.
Also if you car is manual gear box then put it in say 2nd gear then get someone to push the car slightly so that you are turning the engine that way then try starting using the key this also sometimes get the starter working be be warned this isnt permanent fix so get the starter changed sooner rather than later ok

Let me know how you get on or if you need further assistance ok

Does the starting solenoid engages? This is would sound like a deep clunk on your starter. When the solenoid engages it close the contact that energize the starter motor, but a worn contact on the solenoid would result in it engaging but not having enough current to turn the engine resulting in a clunking noise when you try to start.
The starter solenoid gets its 12 volt from a relay. This is referred to as the starter relay. If you try to crank, and you hear only a click but the starter do not turn, then the contacts on the relay maybe worn.
To sum it up, if you hear a loud clunk when it dont crank, its the starter solenoid. If you hear just a click but no crank, it could be the starter relay.

you are correct it is the starter the clicking you hear is the bedix wheel which spins the flywhell to crank the engine. replace the starter and this will solve the problem

you may have to replace he starter and starter cylinoid