I had been having problems with the starting for some time. It would turn over but just not want to kick in right away. I was chalking it up to the fact that I needed a rebuild because of the mileage (over 160,000 I know thats crazy for this car, but its true!), but it turned out that the starter finally showed its true colors and started to make that great ticking sound we all know of . So I put a nice Interstate battery in there (it was needed) and put a new (rebuilt) starter in it. Well, the starter went out again a day later, so I took it back to PEP BOYS and got another one, and had them test it before I left. Of course it worked there. So I get home and put it in, and after about 10 starts it made the tell-tale sound of another bad starter. I'm getting great power from the battery and I'm thinking it's the starter again.
Im going to get another one tomorrow and try it again, plus test out the alternator (a friend thinks that might also be a problem). Any ideas or advice on the mess I just put out here would help out much. Thanks.

 

did you put shims back in if they where there? what sound are you talking about? could it be broken flywheel teeth? also there could be loose or oxidized wires or connections on the battery and starter.

 

Sounds like one of the fused links going to the starter may be shot, or some bad wires anyway. Check all the wires for corrosion and or wear. MOst likely one of the fused links are on there way out though. HTH?

 

try replacing the batt cables while you are changing the starter its a cheap way to eliminate one of the possibilities for your recurring problem

 

make sure that you're getting fuel & spark to the engine. an ignition switch color code guide is avaliable here:

http://www.p71interceptor.com/thirdgen/alarminfo