My '98 is making a loud, kind of grinding noise when I try to start it. It starts fine, but the noise sounds bad. Any help is appreciated

 

remove the starter and clean it, or replace it prolly, I have to do this on my Jeep everytime I go offroading, it fills with dirt, water, and grinds like a MF if I dont clean it.....could be the gears are missing some teeth as well, ever changed it?

edit...could be loose as well, mie will back off, and the teeth wont line up, grinds then to....

 

yes, I replaced it about three months ago...

I will pull it off later today to clean it

 

ya just make sure its tight, and not misaligned... another thing maybe is idler pully but that would squeel all the time pretty much not just at start up