starter grind

[kapower240]

hey guys i just got a red '92 300zx NA with around 230k miles on rebuilt engine and chassis. Everything seems to be normal along with engine except that on two occasions when i tried to start up the car the starter seemed to make a grinding noise instead of the engine cranking and the second time i tried to start it up it turned on like normal. Then on a third occasion it grinded two times then it was normal again. So far it seems to be doing it randomly during these last two weeks that i had the Z. Now my question is will I have to replace the whole starter or just the drive part which i think is grinding becuse its sounds like a gear is grinding but then im not really sure how the starter works. But either way I want to fix this before I end up getting stuck in the middle of nowhere because my car wont start. Thanks guys

[91300zx]

Mine did that too and I found that if I turned the key into the on position and waited until the yellow light went out it will start fine. I think its like a solenoid in a diesel... Just gotta let it sit like that for like 3 seconds.

[evildky]

it's the throw out selenoid on the starter getting weak, check your battery conections, if everything is good and free of corosion, you might want to swap in a new starter

[tg]

Have the same problem with my 90 N/A, once out of every 12 starts or so it doesn't engage and just spins... i'm guessing its the solenoid but i'll know for sure when I have the transmission off and can get a good look at it.