E39 problems starting

Try tapping the starter with a hammer while someone bumps the key. If it tries to turn replace starter if nothing happens then i would say the starter solenoid is probably bad.

PARK SWITCH ------ STARTER RELAY-------- IGNITION FUSE
TRY SHIFTING IN NUTRAL TO START
SEE IF GROUND WIRE TO MOTOR AND BODY AS GOOD CONTACT
DOES POWER TO SIGNAL WIRE OF SELENOIDE ON STARTER COMES LIVE
WHEN TURNING KEY TO START
IS THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING IN DASH

The starting system consists of:

• starter motor
• starter switch, part of the ignition switch
• starter motor solenoid relay switch
• starter solenoid
• starter drive

When you turn your key to start your engine, it just clicks, right? If so, more than likely this is due to a bad battery. Even though your battery may appear to be fully charged, it may have a dead cell, or worse. If you get a jump, does the vehicle start? If so, replace your battery.

Possible sources of the problem if the engine does not crank or the relay clicks:

1. Battery
2. Starter motor
3. Starter motor relay
4. Ignition switch
5. Damaged fuse
6. Anti-theft system
7. Circuitry

I’m happy to help further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_69f3cc28d95bf514

sounds like a bad connection,it wont heat up the solenoid or the starter,check your hot and negative cables from battery to starter first could be the starter itself, ggod luck

If you hear a click then nothing happens then 1- Either the battery is weak. Stereo doesn't need a lot of current. You can turn on the head light and horn at the same time so see if your battery could deliver all current needed to justify the battery. 2- Or your starter solenoid is bad, its poor contacts inside could not carry enough current to the starter to turn over. If you hear nothing, everything is quite then there is a problem with the safety switch at your transmission shifter. This switch is to recognize the Park position before enabling a circuitry to the solenoid starter.

Bad connection or bad starter which can be checked at Autozone for free. which is why jumping doesnt help.check battery connections, and wiring at the starter.

HAVE YOU HAD THE BATTERY TESTED? ARE THE BATTERY TERMINALS/CABLES CLEAN AND FREE OF CORROSION? ARE THEY TIGHT?

Do the dash lights come on ? They should come on when the key is turned to the on position. If nothing happens check the engine relay. It is not too expensive to replace if you really want to eliminate that as the problem. Check all wires going to the starter and make sure it is wired correctly.

Starter relay clicks but starter is not turns over. Check the starter connections and starter itself.
Good Luck

try putting a new starter.donny