Starter just clunks...3.0 M54
 

Good Afternoon.
Any starter-experienced 3.0 home mechanics have any experience with a clunk and no spin when engaging the starter? I think it got hosed when I broke a cooling or heater hose. I'm hoping to do a compression and leak down test but need the motor to spin first. Plugs are out, even.

Sounds like the starter solenoid to me. If you hear the click the solenoid is moving or trying to move, but not closing the starter circuit.

Is there another problem? It could be kicking out but stopping if the engine can't turn. A heavy clunk would be a non turning engine.

I can hand turn the engine with a wrench. It's not a heavy clunk, more in between the flutter of a low battery and a clunk. Just a single smaller clunk. I'll dissect a bit and maybe jumper directly to the starter. I was hoping to be able to get a compression test done to see what direction this potential rat hole is going.

Plenty of juice in the battery? Connections tight? A spray of coolant should not have wiped it out...

I've got the battery disconnected and on a charger since the rear air suspension has a leak. I'll try cranking it later today and report back.

Have you put in a different known good battery? Every car listed in your signature has a battery that will work in an E53.

The battery is less than a year old from NAPA. It was known good about two weeks ago...

So? Swapping a good one from your other cars is free.

Volt meter reading at the posts?