I have a 2001 e-250 with a v-8 Triton. I went to start it one day and the starter motor was spinning but not kicking into the flywheel. I turned the key 3 times and it kept doing it. The 4th time it started and didn't do it again. I had just bought it and the dealer paid for me to buy another starter so I put it in. It did it several times since I even put this new one in. When I had the starter out I checked and the teeth on the flywheel looked it good shape. Oh yeah, the starter I put in was a re-built. The thing I can't figure out is both of the starters are doing the same thing. Has there been any info in regards to this problem with these starters.

 

Make sure you dont have a broken flywheel (center broken away from the rest) Starters have a tendency to always be using the same spot on the flywheel. To inspect, turn over the motor by hand, while inspecting the teeth. You can have good teeth at one point, and bad at another.

 

From the sound of the starter its not kicking into the flywheel. It sounds like the motor is turning over and not hitting anything. I was just wondering if these starters had any quirks and the thing that is confusing me most is both starters are doing the same thing. If I decide to change this starter out again I will check the flywheel more closely, thanks