It struggles to start sometimes, other times it doesnt. yesyerday i heard a screaching noise while driving, later that night it wouldnt start. the car lights were diming then nithing

lmighty mule 200? isnt that a door opener? you are in the automotive section

Check starter drive, starter, starter shems, ring gear stick, fly wheel on auto, starter wire connection. hope it helps.

loose/weak grounding cable tied somewhere to the frame/starter/engine

Its time for another car Jerry.
The oil pressure light was telling you the engine was running on less than 10 psi of oil pressure, and the knock was a rod or main bearing.
Now that the engine has been run low on oil pressure for some time, one of the rod or main bearings is junk, and so is the engine.
By the time you replace the engine, even with a used one, you could take the same money and buy another car. Even if you took the engine apart and fixed the bad bearings, the rest of the engine parts are very weak from running without oil.

the screaching noise is 1 of your belts needs to be tightened. noise from the right front tire sounds like a bad sturt or ball joint and that needs to looked at

check for trouble codes and have the fuel pressure tested.

Okay, jack the front of the car up and apply ebrake, make sure front wheels are off the ground have some one inside the car start the car and place in drive and if the axle spins then it the axle check both sides you will see the inner joint spin or the shaft going to outter joint spin but not wheel, also with the car on the ground and in park if you can push the car while in park then its an axle that broke but if it doesnt move and you feel it locking up in park then it may be the trany,

It is your serpentine belt slipping on one of the metal pulleys and the friction is causing the high pitch screech. The belt may need to be tightened or replaced, which is an easy fix.

Most likely, the problem is the wiring. Over the years, corrosion builds up in the ground strap and positive lead to the starter (from the battery).

or the battery is old or the the starter is dying get it test at a shop for free.

it sounds like your alternator let go, therefore your battery is not charging, you will need to investigate further but the rattling would be explained by the alternator mechanically breaking internally and failing to charge the battery resulting in your present situation