Starter Wheezing!??

So it's happening just about like that. I goto start the gyrl up and she'll crank a turn or two and then sounds like she just wheezes out (old smokers cough) and won't fire up.

I'll let go of the key, sit for a sec, try again, and boom she cranks and turns over.. Without hesitaition and runs like a champ. No missing, or any other strange symptoms. Just this weird wheezing thing? And no it's not every time either. About 40% of the time since it started suddenly a week ago.

No changes except an oil change w/in 4k..?

Where might you start?

She's got new plugs, wires, CPS is still ok since the repair.. battery's ok.

Weak bendix spring on the starter motor drive.

Yah sounds like the starter motor is slowly going out. Bad thing is if you take it off and take it to autozone and have them test it all they'll do is hook it up to a battery and see it engage and spin and say well it's good but once it's under load is when the problem happens.

Must be a preconception or whatever, but I though starters made that harsh grinding noise when they were going out?? Wheezing? Never in my life.. Hmm...

The grinding noise is when the starter gear gets caught in the flywheel or when the car is already running and you turn the key because the flywheel is spinning faster than the starter's gear. I have seen some that when they are starting to go out will whine some when it's starting the car and then one day "CLICK".

Oooohhh.... So, the "CLICK" is a BAD thing right? lol.. D*mn. I really don't want to hear that "CLICK"

OK. So, being as that every repair has to become an upgrade.. Anybody got suggestions for what to and NOT to get?

ie- Which starters suck and which don't? And who's makin the king of starters?

BTW- thanks dave.