OK so I have a 98 Durango 5.2 and recently it has been having a bit of trouble starting mainly the starter not engaging the flywheel the starter would just spin and not crank the engine I would tap the key and then it would start.

a couple of days ago the starter completely would not engage so I figured that the starter went bad so i replaced the starter after I got the starter installed i turned the key and the new starter was doing the same thing spinning and not engaging.

So i figured that maybe there was a flat spot on the fly wheel and that was keeping it from engaging so I turned the crank shaft manually and it started.

after this 99% of the time it will not start because it will not engage so i have to turn the crank to start it. I know I can't be that unlucky to land on the same spot that often. Is there something I'm missing or another possibly cause to this issue?

I don't want to take out the starter again but i think I'm going to do that today to check the fly wheel for missing/flat spots

 

I'd take off the starter and look in at the teeth.