Intermittent starter problem

[gchappel]

The car is an 85 carrera that has been a very reliable daily driver/track car for years. About 8 months ago, at the track, I turned the key- and no starter. I turned the key again, and it started right up- and no problem at all for a few months. Three months later the car was sitting in the parking lot- and would not start. The fuel pump was going, etc- just no starter. A 3 foot push and it ran normally-although no starter after I turned it off. Took the car to my mechanic- by which time it of coarse was running normally ( it had healed itself)- and he could find nothing wrong. He checked the ignition switch, wiring to the starter and the starter itself- all ok. Car worked fine for about 4 months, and out of the blue same thing again today- turn key- no starter. Where should I go from here. Should I just replace the starter- I hate to shotgun problems, but .....
Thanks
Gary

[marcesq]

Don't have a positive answer, but the next time it happens, get a friend to turn the key to start while you tap on the starter with a hammer.

If it turns over, then it may be a brush problem in the starter.

FWIW.

[BYantzer]

Was the car warm when you started it or cold?

Anyone else see where i am going with this?

[gchappel]

The car was hot the first time- the little burble at the track. The other times the car was relatively cold- sitting in the parking lot for a couple of hours. The problem did not correct itself with the car parked in a cool garage for a couple of days, in fact the car didn't heal itself untill I had it flat-bedded to my mechanic. I had to push start the car to put it on the flatbed, but at the mechanics it started fine when they took it off the truck. Maybe I'll show the car pictures of a tow truck My gut feeling is to put in a new starter, but just want to check- shot gun fixes are not my routine method of repairs