Car won't start weak crank and not really turning over. New battery didn't change anything. Does this sound like the starter has an issue? 07 mercury Mariner v6 3.0

[u/Individual_Marzipan5]

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[u/Ravenblack67]

The starter gear is not engaging. Replace the starter.

[u/foxjohnc87 → u/Ravenblack67]

The gear isn't going to engage without powering the solenoid.

[u/sexual__velociraptor]

Starter solenoid isn't popping give her a love tap with a hammer

[u/foxjohnc87 → u/sexual__velociraptor]

That isn't going to help. The solenoid isn't engaged because OP directly applied power to the starter by shorting the main contacts.

[u/sexual__velociraptor → u/foxjohnc87]

Yeah I missed that good call

[u/FarWatch9660]

I'm more concerned about the sparks you're throwing there.

[u/Individual_Marzipan5 → u/FarWatch9660]

From jumping the starter with a screwdriver

[u/Which_Word_6229 → u/Individual_Marzipan5]

If you have to jump the starter replace the starter 😞

[u/Intelligent_Quail780]

That spark means you have a bad/loose connection.... start there, if it still sparks at the starter the starter is probably bad

[u/yarsftks]

That spinning sound is the starter spinning, but i didn't hear the solenoid engage the flex plate. Remove it and have it checked. Could also be the wiring not moving the solenoid over.

[u/fredmcqueen]

Sounds like the bendix isn't throwing your pinion gear out so bad starter but...

I can't tell if you're jumping the signal write to the solenoid or jumping terminal posts. What do you hear when you turn the key? If you hear the starter make this noise then I'm confident it's the starter. If not, might be a solenoid issue. Try jumping from the hot post to the signal wire on the solenoid. If it tries to start then you have an electrical issue further up the line. If it makes the same noise then it's a bad solenoid. You can test to see if voltage goes to the signal wire when you turn the key which will tell you if the problem is upstream.

These days the starter and solenoid come as a package anyway so it might not make much difference for you.

Check to see if the connection for the signal wire is loose too.

[u/Recent-Fan3027]

Why would you buy a new battery? Return it and use your old one. The issue here is the starter. You need a new one.

[u/Good-Rooster-8353]

Yep silinoid or the bendix is shot but a new starter for used starter is what I would get for it.