When I went to start my car earlier tonight, when I first turned the key, the starter engaged but sounded like the teeth were chattering. I stopped it, tried it again, same thing. Third try and it started normal. Came home from where I was, pulled it into the garage and turned it off and then back on a few times and it started normal each time. Any idea what this could be? Starter beginning to go bad? Thanks for any help.

 

There's a possibility the the starter is going bad, but I would look real closely at the cables and their ends as it sounds like it may be a poor or loose connection or a bad ground.

 

Yeah, I will have to check the connections. I recently did a header install and removed and reinstalled the starter so who knows.

 

Did it to me again today. It seems like it happens after the car has fully warmed up and then is shut down for a small time then re-started.

 

Some starters are mounted with shims to set the proper teeth engagement. When you removed your starter, was there possibly a shim that fell out?

 

No, nothing fell out. As far as i know its the stock starter with 125k on it. I put it back on the way it came off. Ill be rechecking everything today just to make sure all the bolts and connections are tight.

 

double check all your connections. Its cause by one of 2 things. Either the connections are bad and the starter is drawing more current than the battery can supply due to bad or poor connections, OR the starter itself is beginning to fail and this is causing it to draw more current than it normally would. (this is assuming your battery is good)

Check the starter itself also... I've actually had my starter do the same thing and I ordered a new one. Got under there and found the 3 long bolts that hold the assemby together had become loose. I tightened them up and it was fine.... I chnaged the starter anyway since I already bought a new one.