Starter hanging? How bad is this?
 

2001 986S.

I think my starter motor is hanging. Car starts fine, but when I release the key for the first perhaps one second there is a high speed whirring sound from the engine area, which I beleive is the starter not immediately disengaging. So the enegine spins it for a second before it frees. Is this a common problem with this car?

I'm curious how much this might run me to correct. I'm thinking the cheap and easy way is to loosen the starter and re-tighten. But then I'm concerned the gear on the starter might be a bit buggered now and if I continue to use it even after getting it to release properly, I'll bugger the ring gear as well. What's a new starter run?

Many thanks!

The starter bushing in the bendix drive is most likely the cause. Remove the unit and get it rebuilt.

Bad... correct it

If its a short squealing sound, some say sounds like an elephant, I have the same problem with my boxster S '00. I posted the same question around a month ago. The response I got was to replace my starter. Should be some cheap rebuilt ones on ebay. I have yet to do it but plan to ASAP.