This truck will start 99 % of the time, but recently I would hear a loud squeal. I would then turn off the key and try again. Then she would start. Took of flywheel cover and the flywheel looks good. Got to the starter and it was loose. About 3 screw turns loose. Would this cause the squeal or should I check the starter teeth?

 

The starter teeth should be fine. The starter grounds to the block by pressure. If it was 'backed' off a little it may not have had a good ground and 'strained' and 'jumped' at little. My truck would not start one time and I found that one of my starter bolts had fallen out and the other (two hole starter) was backed out a thread or two. I had no damage at all anywhere, just needed a new bolt.

 

That was luck!

 

Tighten it up and see how it does! If the teeth look good probly no damage done!

 

I noticed a similar noise yesterday for the first time in my 02 PSD Excursion. My truck starts but for about the first 5 seconds of run time makes an awful screeching noise and then it goes away and the truck runs fine. After doing some internet searching today I came home from work and crawled under the truck and sure enough the top bolt on my two bolt starter was completely loose. I torqued both bolts to 18 ft-lbs and now the screech is a little less and only lasts for about a second after start-up but it is still there.

My starter is an autolite starter so the previous owner had the OEM one replaced at some point. Is it time to replace the starter? I don't want to do more damage by continuing to drive/start the truck and need to drive it to work tomorrow.

Thanks,