Starter going bad?

[loykd]

What are the signs of a deteriorating starter? Mine intermittently starts slowly. It sometimes turns over slowly, in the same way as when your battery is low on a charge. But at other times, it starts up just fine.

Could this be the starter or the sign of something else?

[rover4x4]

I would start with the battery since they are cheaper than a starter...... other than I got no idea sorry

[BarryO]

If the battery and cables/grounds are OK, then yes it sounds like the starter/solenoid is going south. One day it won't start.

[ron]

Also could be the heat shield is gone and the starter is HOT. this has happened with my cuda.

[loykd]

I'll have to take another look at the battery cables, but I think they're all ok. Battery is a Yellow Top Optima, only 2 years old I believe, and I haven't thought it would be the cause.

Ron, there doesn't seem to be rhyme or reason to why it happens. Sometimes it's when the engine is cold, sometimes it's when it's hot.

Appreciate the thoughts. Any others?

[flippedrover]

I had the same problem. Replaced my starter with one a friend had rebuilt and have had no issues.

[Mike Hippert]

Ahh Ken! Don't you remeber our first trip to Paragon? My strter died, it was making horribal noises. Check the connections like said, measure the battery voltage (should be above 12 volts), you could also measure the voltage at the starter to make sure it is gettin full voltage.