Bad Starter?? 2002 Pathfinder 4WD

[djengr]

Here are the symptoms.

When turning the key, fast clicking sound. Starter is not engaging, nor turning. First thought it was the battery, even though the battery is about 1 year old, put it on the charger. The charger did not indicate battery was bad, so I don't believe it bad.

Next I jacked up the car, found the starter and gave it a couple of wacks with the ball peen. Car started right up. If this was my car, I would drive till it happened again. This is my wifes car. Nuff said.

My next step is to take starter out and have it tested. Looking up under the vehicle at the starter I had a couple of questions,

Could it be something besides the starter?

Can the starter come out without taking a lot of other things off?

Looks kind of crowed under there. I have already loosened two bolts holding the starter. Thought I would stop and ask before going too far.

BTW 2002 Pathfinder, 4WD.Thanks in advance.

Update. My wife asked if I wanted to try and jump it, I assured her it was not the battery. My far advance brain said it was the starter. She said are you sure. So to show her a jump would not do I tried a jump start, to my amazement the starter engaged, slowly and not enough to start. Took battery to autozone ----- bad battery, still under full replacement warranty. But while I was there three other were gettting warranty replacement batteries, are autozone duralast batteries junk, well that is another forum. Moral of story, check the easy first.

Thanks for reading.
Modified by djengr at 6:35 PM 8/14/2006