3.1 issues

[Teyota]

Hi. This forum was recommended to me by the CorvetteForum I am a member of. The problem is I have a 1996 Lumina 3.1L sedan. Car ran fine. Went into store for a couple minutes, came back out and no start. Seemed like the battery was dead. Just a click from the starter. Jumped it but no good. Towed car home and changed the battery, still no more than just a click from the starter. Next day tried again and it turned over this time but no start. Cranked it over with foot on gas this time and it started. But ran really bad and only for a few seconds. I'm guessing fuel pump/regulator/filter. No big deal but it also has a clunking sound while it is running. Not out of oil. My brother has 2 cars with same engine with the exact same problem. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Brian

[geoffinbc]

Well the car not turning over is the starter or loose connection to it. The temperature difference when the car cooled off may be what changed the no start condition. The poor running may be a coincidence or part of the poor connection...

Tighten everything related to the starter and see if the condition is solved

[SHOoff]

Take the starter to AutoZone and have it tested. I'll bet that it works but it's drawing WAY too many amps. Shorted out, dead.

[TheProfessor]

test your battery while you at it too
some weird stuff can happen with old worn batteries