2002 Sable. Starter issue?
 

I am at a loss as to what this problem could be. I left this car at my local FORD dealer for a month and they couldn't tell me what was wrong with it. They said they even let one of their guys drive it for several weeks to try and figure out the problem with no luck.

I wonder how up front they were being? Surely they could have told me something - but no.

Here's the problem.

When I try to start the car sometimes it will start right away all though you can hear the car struggle to start up. Other times it can take up to 10 or more tries to get it to start. When it doesn't start up it makes a loud ZZZZZZZZZ sound and sometimes it will make the same sound accompanied by a clicking.

I had them replace the spark plugs, wires, and starter.

My fuel pump and gas tank and battery are also new.

Could it be a tooth missing on the fly wheel? That just doesn't seem right though, what could this issue possibly be?

If it's a starting issue I would isolate the components involved in the ignition cycle and check each one, as well as the harnesses. It's hard to believe that the dealer couldn't figure something out, unless they couldn't duplicate the issue. Where I used to work, my service manager would've been pissed if we couldn't figure something out in a month!...