I think my starter died

[huafist]

I've been having a problem over the last week or so with my N/A Talon - each time I crank the car it's harder to turn over, almost like the battery's not charging. That's kinda what I figured the problem was - the ALT was fine, I just figured the battery (no idea how old it is) was dead. Anyway, today I went out to check it and sure enough, the car wouldn't start... it tried a couple of times then just quit. I pulled a known good battery and put on it, no dice. Put the suspect battery in another car, started right up.
At this point, I figured the starter was shot. I pull the starter, bench test it, it spins fine. I hook everything back up, but leave the starter unhooked from the block so I could watch it. Turned the key, starter spun like it's supposed to. Put it all back together, nada. Every now and then it'll try to turn over a few times, and the RPM needle jumps around like it's on drugs.
When it runs, it runs great (last night was a good example), so I'm pretty confident in saying the engine is fine.
What do you guys think? Starter or ECU? Something else maybe?

 

[huafist]

Pulled the ECU - no caps leaking, everything seems in order. About has to be the starter at this point.

 

[mitsuclipsegsx]

my car woundt start and i just took a hammer to it, it made a spark and it started who knows how long it will last but it worked

 

[huafist]

Update:
Problem fixed. It was the starter after all. Took the starter off my TSi AWD project car (which was just bought, LONG way from running), and all it well with the world.
FWIW, all 6-bolt starters are the same, be they turbo, AWD, FWD, or N/A.

 

[clipise]

i hope u didnt get the starter from autozone!!! yesterday i brought back my starter twice because they are P.O.S. i hate autozone. well, good luck w/ ur car.

 

[huafist]

i hope u didnt get the starter from autozone!!! yesterday i brought back my starter twice because they are P.O.S. i hate autozone. well, good luck w/ ur car.

READ:

Update:
Took the starter off my TSi AWD project car

No, I didn't get my starter from AutoZone. I'd rather have my eyeballs removed with a spatula.

 

[clipise]

Originally Posted by huafist
Update:
Took the starter off my TSi AWD project car
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i didnt read that part. .

Originally Posted by huafist
No, I didn't get my starter from AutoZone. I'd rather have my eyeballs removed with a spatula.
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i wish i would of been smart and listened to the people who told me never to go to autozone. oh well, time to get my spatula to start removeing some things because of my stupidity.