New Starter Grinding Noise

[GX470]

'04 Pathfinder. Just replaced the starter with NAPA Re-man starter (same OEM Mitsubishi brand). Car starts fine, but there is some kind of grinding noise right before the key is released. Did pull out the starter to inspect and put back in but the noise is still there. Hadn't have this problem with the original starter before.

So, has anyone experienced this problem? Or does anybody know what would cause the noise and how to solve it?

[Leo1998]

Maybe the gear isn't retracting all the way back in and is dragging on the flywheel. Sounds like a bad reman. from Napa. Have them bench test it to see if it's working properly.

[Leo1998]

You can bench test it yourself, pull the starter, set on the ground or bench, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAjMO3Zu88s
Is there a spacer that needs to be installed behind the starter and was left off? could be a clearance problem. Inspect the flywheel teeth for broken or missing teeth. Could be a sticking solenoid too.

[GX470]

Maybe the gear isn't retracting all the way back in and is dragging on the flywheel. Sounds like a bad reman. from Napa. Have them bench test it to see if it's working properly.

Thanks for your input. Turned out it was a bad re-man. Decided to try my luck again with another NAPA re-man and it seems working fine now, i hope.

I recently have had a few new parts from NAPA that failed right out of the box. First was the thermostat that stuck open, the air filter that wouldn't fit and now this bad built starter. Makes me start questioning the quality of NAPA that i used to see in the past.