Possible starter issue - voltage checked - clunk under left foot when first starting

[08EddieCA]

I have a 2008 Explorer Eddie B 4x4. 117,000 miles.

The sound feels like the starter engages and skips. The starter does not remain engaged. The truck starts and there are no codes. No other issues with the car except for a transmission thats going out.
Resting battery voltage is 12.40 (a bit low)
When the key is placed in the ignition the voltage drops to 11.98 (possibly too low)
When the car is Running with accessories turned Off the voltage is constant at 14.32 so I am convinced the Alternator is running fine along with the voltage regulator.
With the car running and ALL accessories turned on the voltage is 13.91.
I have not performed a battery load test as I don't a meter.
Grounds are good.
Visually, the starter looks fine.

Could this be a bad battery and a bad starter? I don't think it's a differential issue since the car isn't moving. The AC is usually turned off.
Thanks for your input

 

[Rcflyer330]

Well it could be one or the other to rule out the battery or starter you could place it on charger overnight then try to start the car I would try it over a few days and see if the car does the same thing if so most likely the starter if not probally the battery. Jump start box would be the fastest way and you could just do multiple start stops in a row.

How old is the battery if it is over 5 years or its the original battery replacing it would be a good idea to replace it.

Does the engine stop cranking and you have to try again?

 

[08EddieCA]

I'll try the battery charging this weekend. Thank you.

The car starts usually on the first grab of the starter, even when the starter seems to skip. It almost seems like it's not getting enough power though.

I certainly hope it's the battery vs the starter - much easier to replace. I'm checking the markings on the battery - I bought the Explorer used just over a year ago.

 

[MotorCityFats13]

do you have a voltage meter on your system 100% of the time.... I do and I find as soon as the alt get hot my charging voltage drops to 14.1 and with all acc running it reads 13.8 "headlight, fogs, defrost and heater on full" .... I have a brand new AGM battery and the resting voltage after 12 hours is only 12.1 and under full starting load its expected to drop below 11.5..... would be nice to charge at 14.4 all the time but in the other threads I have started about this topic some people have 14.4 all the time and others 13.8..... I replaced my battery because of it having a resting voltage of 12 but the hydrometer also showed me 2 cells were at 75% and 2 were at 50% and 2 were at 25% although it started very strong until temps got into the single digits and that scared me enough to just spend the $170 on the AGM battery

 

[08EddieCA]

Turns out I have a Duralast Gold with a date stamp of 9/13. Since the max charge it will now hold is around 11.80~ I'm confident it's the battery. Since I bought the car used with no receipt no phone number on file with Autozone for the battery that I did not purchase, they told me to pound sand in terms of a warranty claim. Onward and upward.
Silver lining is that I did score a used starter on ebay from an xplorer with 40K on the clock for $30.00.

 

[08EddieCA]

Update - its the starter going bad.
Question - I hear removing and installing a starter is difficult due to the starter location. Does anyone have advise on pulling the starter out? Tricks?

Edit 7.7.16: Lowering front diff, removing front drive shaft for new U joint. While I'm in there I'm going to replace the starter.

 

[MotorCityFats13]

i have not even looked at the starter location on a 3rd or 4th gen but I know I did one several times on a 97 ranger and 98 explorer and it was really an easy job and I dont know what they could have changed between these years because I thought the bottom end of the engines are virtually the same.... maybe ill take a look at everything on the bottom side this weekend