I'll begin by saying that in the 9 months I have owned my truck, I have replaced the starter 3 times. Starters don't like water, and I drive through lots of it. Well at least I used to. Anyway, my starter will occasionally just scream at me when I crank it. It's very rare, probably happened 4 times in the past 4 months. When I turn the key, I can tell that it is not engaging the flywheel (or whatever it engages). "Screams" is the only word I can think of to describe the sound it makes. I stop cranking, turn the key off and then try it again and it starts perfect. Any thoughts? The starter is under warranty, but I hate changing that damn thing.

 

Well you know that the starter gear 'cranks' toward the flywheel when the starter motor turns over.
Is there a problem with this action? dry of lube? Something limiting it's movement?
Does the flywheel have a bad section of teeth?
There not much else that could be at fault unless the replacments are the problem.

 

Sounds like your wires to the starter are corroded. When the wires corrode the resistance goes way up, causing a large voltage drop under load. 2 symptoms of this condition are 1 burning up starters and 2 starter acts like the battery is weak even when fully charged.

 

I was also thinking that I could possibly be missing one or more teeth on the flywheel. Like I said, it is completely random and it happens very rarely. I really haven't cared much about it because it happens so infrequently and it always starts right up on the second try.

The starter wires are in good shape. I suppose they could be corroded or partially broken inside the insulation, but I think if this were the case, my problem would happen a lot more frequently. The starter always cranks at the right speed, but sometimes it does not engage the flywheel and crank the engine. Given the circumstances, I'm more leaning toward what Bluegrass said.

That starter is a PITA to replace, so I'll probably just leave it unless the problem becomes worse. Thanks for your responses.

 

Lets revisit this one,

I have an issue with this now and its getting worse with each day, mine zings as if I were grinding the teeth off the flexplate, very loud in confined spaces, sometimes it does it twice in row and then starts. I've been under my truck and havent noticed any corrosion on my starters wiring.

 

In the starter drive is a spirel threaded shaft that a lever forces the starter gear out on, to engage the flywheel teeth.
As soon as the motor goes faster than the starter, the gear retracts away giving you time to release the start function.
If there is a problem here from a hang up, dry of lube, broken etc , you will have a problem with jamb, lnsufficient tooth contact, etc.
The longer this goes on the worse it gets until more damage is done then the trans has to be dropped and the flex plate changed for bad teeth.
Don't keep wondering what it is but find out now.
Take the rubber plug out of the housing rotate the flex plate and look at the teeth.
Take the starter out and inspect the drive gear teeth and for movement on it's shaft.
None of this has anything to do with cables.