1992 3.1 5-speed. Turn key and starter turns motor over for about 1 second then just spins freely. In the past, the starter would spin freely until a few trys then it would catch and turn motor over. Which should I replace first?

 

Starter

If you had a batt problem the starter wouldn't be spinning

 

...or the starter solenoid to be more specific.

If you feel like messing with it, you might try inspecting the solenoid actuator arm, and see if you can figure out why it isn't doing its job properly. That doesn't cost anything but your time.

A complete (rebuilt) starter and solenoid are cheap (less than $100).

 

But given he has a problem determining whether the batt or starter I wasn't about to go into a detailed explanation of how to check it

 

The reason I have doubts about the battery is because when I set the battery charger to the 200 amp START MODE the engine did start and run.

 

Well then, carry a 200 amp batt chgr with you everywhere.

Or if you don't like that idea, do the logical thing instead, and replace the starter, since it has a bad "Bendix" (sprag, drive, whatever)

 

When my starter did this on my '91 Firebird it turned out to be a chunk of the flywheel that was missing. I turned the belt by hand to another portion of the flywheel and it started right up. Hasn't done it again since.

 

Thanks "57". I will post back my results.

 

BINGO!!! We have a winner. Rotated the crank pulley 1/4 turn , and it started on the first try. Na to the parts changers.

 

Rotating the engine over didn't fix anything. You either have a bad flywheel or a bad starter. One way or the other it WILL do it again.

 

I did end up replacing the starter. It looked like the original was still in there. There was a two to three tooth chunk missing. I know I'll have to replace the flywheel sometime, but it hasn't found that chunk in over a year.