My Evo VIII has been getting gradually harder to start over the past week, sometimes backfiring and rotating the starter motor in reverse. Yesterday the starter motor spun up, but the pinion gear failed to fully engage with the flywheel ring gear, making a grinding noise as the teeth rubbed up against its edge. Now when I turn the key, the motor spins, but the pinion just doesn't engage. I'm guessing that either the pull in or hold in coils have failed, or the pinion is not able to slide freely on the shaft. I've got 96K up as a daily driver so the starter has done some work

Before I tear in to it I wanted to ask what your diagnosis is?

 

my car did the same thing as well. the spindle would spin and grind when it would engage the flywheel. i took it out and had it tested at two different autoparts store and it seemed fine. just decided to buy a new one and put it in and has been fine eversince. the starter is easy to access and could be done in about 5 - 10 minutes. i would just get a new one. i got my starter from o reilly's auto parts store. not sure about autozone or napa but i know o reilly's had it. good luck.

 

Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like an easy swap. After reading the service manual last night I thought that I was going to have to remove the downpipe and crossbraces before I could get to it

 

It seems like most areas still have a shop that repairs starters and alternators. I'd drop it in their lap. It would be cheaper than a new one and not iffy like a reman.