Wall switch has black n white wires, but red white and black coming through the ceiling. Reading the instructions I should cap the red one and connect the black and white wires to the fan. Where do I connect the green ground wire from the fan base/ceiling mount to? Lights were flickering and burning out so I pulled it down to recheck my work

I need to understand the wiring that you have at the switch outlet.

Is it Black-Red-White or just black and white going to the switch?

How long ago was the light put in and what wires were/are connected to the switch?

I need you help in order to help you.

If the switch has a black and white, it is switch looped with power at the ceiling. Either the red or black at the ceiling would be connected to the wall switch. What 2 wires were on the light?

Sounds like you may have a second switch somewhere making it a 3 way.

Please clarify.
Do you have one cable in the switch box with a black and white wire and one cable with a black, white and red going to the ceiling, with just the black, white and red in the ceiling?

Each of these cables should have a bare ground wire. YOU should connect all ground wires together and to any metallic boxes. The ground wire is not part of the circuitry.
If bulbs are flickering it could be because of a poor connection but would not cause a bulb to burn out. Something else must be wrong if bulbs are burning out.

How many terminals does the switch have?