This is odd

(This is hard to explain)... When I (sometimes) turn the key to start the car, the car wont start but I can hear the starter move the fly wheel just an inch. That happens when I have the key in position 3 (ignition). But then some times it starts up on a dime.

This is an insane problem that has bugged me for a while and had my dad get pissed at me for (because he says I never know what the problem is... parents...).

Thanks Mates!

Check for bad connections at the starter and battery cables.

Bad ignition switch or starter relay maybe??

Bad ignition switch or starter relay maybe??

I was thinking it may be the starter relay, but I may end up just going through the wires to find a bad connection.

Also make sure your neutral safety switch is making ground to the starter relay in park and neutral. If your linkage is off it may start fine in neutral but intermittent in Park...

Wires and connections first, always. If not, then its the solenoid, I think. When it moves forward to engage the starter gear, it makes a large contact to transfer that current to the starter motor. Hard to explain here how it looks and works. But I think it is that large copper contact that is not passing current. It can crud up from normal arching and corrosion over the years. Dont be afraid to tear into it!

I knew that solenoid would cause problems from the get go when I got the car, their is one wire that is barely hanging on, so I'm gonna check that out.

Also, does anybody think it may be the starter relay? cause I also think that could be the or one of the issue(s).

When this happens what do you have to do to get it to start? Just try again, or what?

I would say either bad starter solonoid or bad motor brushes, but first ensure that the starter relay is grounded well, if it is loose it could be inconsistent. Also, if you put a screwdriver across the big and little posts of the starter relay and get consistant cranking (not just one inch each time) the relay could be the problem.

neutral safety switch wire....mine has done the same thing, found the wire barely hanging on at the relay. put some dielectric grease on the connector and hasnt acted up since ... good luck !

Okay I did what 68chargerAG said to do and I have come to the conclusion that it's the starter motor because I bridged the connections on the relay and it still had the same problem. So i'm gonna buy a new starter motor, specifically this one...

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/db-starter-alternator/items/item.aspx?itemid=555329