Went to start my 2004 2.7L SXT this morning and heard a loud grinding/whirring noise as I turned the key. My guess was that the starter motor or clutch plate had jammed, but amazingly it still turned the engine over and the car started.

When I arrived at work I started the car a couple of times and it was fine.

What do you guys think - sticking clutch plate, faulty starter motor, what?

 

Why don't you just get the loveable Mazda your talking about as being the bestin the Avenger forum. Seeing how you like to down talk the Mopar motors over in that forum, just get a Mazda and be done with it.
But, I did see in an older post you did state thatyou did not want to buy another American car. So why jump from one forum to another and make the comments you do ?

 

Well anyway, it sounds like your starter may be sticking. It may just start doing it everyonce in a while, but it is normally a sign that it is going out.