2002 Infiniti qx4 intermittent starting issue

[cmlcsu]

My qx4 makes a weird noise when I try to start it. When I turn the key I get a quick winding noise that repeats two or three times in about a second. The car doesnt start and this noise happens without the engine turning over. When I get the noise I turn the key off then when I try to start again the car starts with no problems.
Last night the noise happend again and a little smoke/burning smell came through the ventilation system. This was the first time anything like this happened.
This noise happens very rarley and I can't find anything online about the noise. It seems if I turn the key to the on position for a few seconds then start the car I don't get the noise.
My first thought was the starter but you usually get a clicking noise when a starter begins to go out.

[atraudes]

Wow, that is bizarre! I'm sort of wondering if you're having multiple problems that may or may not be related. Is it throwing any codes or having any other issues? Have you had any recently resolved issues?

The quick winding noise happens when the key is in the Start position?

The smoke sort of hints at possibly a fried computer, but if that were the case, I'd expect it to not start at all, though.

Check carefully under the hood at the electrical spots (the ground wire specifically, fuse boxes, battery terminals, etc) and see if you see anything unusual like burnt points, corrosion, melted wires, damaged wires. Also trace the cable to the starter to check for anything unusual as well.

What voltage does your battery show with the engine off after having sat for a while (overnight, ideally)?

[cmlcsu]

I have had a few issues in the last 6 months but nothing major. I have had overheating trouble so a new thermostat and radiator replacement solved that. I had a bad swirl control valve, replaced that. I had a oil leak out of oil cooler and replaced the orings. I also had some headlight issues that turned out to be bad bulbs from eBay.
The car does not throw codes with the starting issue. And the noise comes when in turn the key all the way to the start position. It only happens once and then the car starts fine. This issue has been going on for about a year but only happens about once per month when I drive it. My wife drives the car every day and she has never had the noise happen to her.
The smoke only happened this last time, I will check under the hood this weekend and check voltage and fuses to see if anything looks out of the ordinary.
I will get back to you with more info.

[InfinitiPartsMan]

My '01 QX4 has been doing something similar (more off than on) over the last couple of years. I replaced the starter a couple of years ago, and the problem didn't go away. About a month ago, the Alternator died. I replaced the Alternator. The intermittent Starter issue was still present. Finally, this last weekend, the Starter would not do anything other than a short "grinding" type of noise accompanied by a little smoke and burning electrical smell. I bench-tested the Starter and found it bad. I replaced the Starter and and also a new Negative (-) Battery Cable. So far, the new Starter is operating great.