[V8] starter going?

[QuickAudi at aol.com]

I think my starter is going, but I wanted to ask the list to make sure.  When I turn the key to crank the engine, sometimes it will make a whirring noise and there is no engine action.  When I let off of the key, it does a fake start for like a split second and then obviously dies.  When I turn the car back off and then try to start it again, it starts with only the normal hesitation.  I'm thinking the hesitation (which means it takes a few revolutions for the engine to catch instead of firing right up) means that the starter is getting old, but this fake start thing with the whirring, is that an electrical/wiring problem, or should I just get a new starter?  Also, is a rebuild a bad idea?  I have 143k on this starter.  Also, is it the same starter as a 5k?


Joel
'90 V8q
'86 5kcstq