So my car has a starter problem, or so i thought until i researched a little on this forum...

my car will start most days without problem, although on colder days when I get up in the morning i have been having this problem. turn the key, and all i get is a whirring noise, almost like the brushes arent brushing. if i wait for a handful of minutes with the key at ACC then it will generally start catching, with a gear grinding whir instead of the straight sound, and eventually start.

Normally I would just replace the starter, as this is usually a good indication that it is on its way out, except after reading some posts in this forum i have a different idea of what it could be.

another quick note, banging the solonoid doesnt change the ability to start...

 

Your battery is weak. Replace it. Low charge on the battery will be enough to spin the starter motor but won't have enough juice to kick out the solenoid and engage the starter with the flywheel. Why does it work after a "handful of minutes?" Because the solenoid is heating up from the small amount of current it is getting and, because it is worn due to age, will evenutally release and engage the starter - the heat helping to "unstick" the solenoid after a time. A battery with a full charge will overcome this immediately.

My thoughts - good luck
Crispy