Newbie Starter Problems.

Pull the starter out and inspect the starter Bendix drive. You may find evidence of it sticking, so clean it up and spray it down with WD40. If you find that the Bendix drive is damaged, plan on replacing the starter. If is sticking and the WD40 didn't fix it, replace the starter. Most auto parts store will test the starter for free.

While the starter is out, paint a white mark on one flywheel gear tooth. You are going to inspect the flywheel gear teeth for visible damage. Put the transmission in 5th gear and move the car slightly. Inspect the teeth and move the car slightly again in the same direction. You may need to mark the flywheel gear with a magic marker to be sure that you don't end up checking the same teeth over and over again. Continue to do this until you see the white marked tooth appear. This is an indication that you have made one complete revolution and had opportunity to visually inspect all the flywheel gear teeth for damage.

Here's a simple way to mark the flywheel gear teeth so that you know which ones you have already checked. Mark the first tooth you can clearly see through the starter mount hole. Then mark the last tooth you can clearly see through the starter mount hole. Put a number between the two marks, then rotate the engine until only the last mark shows. Then do the mark and number routine all over again, but increment the number by 1. When you get to the white mark, you know you have looked at all the teeth.