My 2003 jeep wrangler started doing this all of a sudden today...bad starter?
I have not tried to push start. It is parked on the street in front of my house and it is facing a downhill section where if it doesnt start, then it will be stuck in the valley. I will check and make sure the starter bolts havent come loose or anything tonight.Sounds like it to me. If I had to guess I'd say the gear isn't coming and engaging the flywheel. You try to push start is since it's stick?
The only variables needed for starting are: air/fuel, spark, and turning of the rotating assembly, and it sounds to me like it's turning so unless that's your fuel pump making all that noise...it makes me think that you have a problem with one of the other variables?
Sounds like the starter to me. It's spinning, but not engaging the flywheel. Look for damaged gears when you pull the starter.
No shim fell out. I just checked the old starter to make sure a shim didnt stick to it, and there was no shim there either. There wasnt a shim stuck to the bellhousing either.Did a metal shim fall out when you removed the old starter?
I'm not real familiar with jeeps but check the basics. Is it seated right? More importantly did the parts store give you the right starter? You can test it outside if the car and see if it makes the noise. Make sure to have it held down real good if you test outside. They have a lot of tq.