My starter has been acting up lately, I'm pretty sure it's the starter itself. Sometimes when I try to start it, it clicks on and off quickly - the bendix gear is engaging, I can hear it hitting the flywheel over and over. It only seems to do it when cold, after it's been sitting for a while. Anyone else ever had this problem? I think I'm going to replace the starter tomorrow and see if that fixes it. Here's a video of what it's doing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4BJYNPQfkM

Edit: Also, I'm considering swapping to an LT1 starter, but does anyone know if it will fit with a T5? Neither Autozone or O'Reilly's website lists a specific one for an auto or manual trans, so I'm assuming it doesn't matter.

 

a weak battery can cause the starter to "click" your battery may have enough voltage to start the car when its warm but not enough cold cranking amps to start it when its cold. ied check the battery first. its a lot cheeper than a starter

 

The battery is barely a month old, and I checked the battery connections, they're solid. The only connection I haven't checked yet is where the positive battery cable connects to the starter, I'll have to check that one tomorrow when I can get under the car.

 

thats what i would do. if time is not a factor then just start at the battery and check everything from there to the starter. conections ect. if you have a jump box or a battery charger you can try this; when you car wont start and the starter clicks hook up the jump box or charger then try it agian. if it starts then ied have the battery checked. if it dont then the starter is likely the problem

 

Well, it turned out to be my VATS starter enable relay causing the problem. The connector for it was all gunked up inside with some kind of black sticky mess. None of the parts stores in the area had a replacement in stock, and neither did the dealership. So, I decided to just bypass it - the key reader is already bypassed, so I figured I might as well bypass the relay too.