How do I figure out if the starter needs replaced _ what are the symptoms?

that sounds like the starter motor bendix spring not returning , some starter motors can be repaired but most are mostly replaced, if you can get to the starter motor easily try tapping it with a hammer , this could help release the bendix until you get new motor

sounds like starter solenoid is malfunctioning replace starter or solenoid or just bad wire connections if car has strap type terminals replace with lead connectors for better connection

this car has a tsb for starter lever replacement. symptoms are a spinning sound and no start. see dealer for starter lever replacement whole starter does not need to be replaced. labor time is 2.5 hours the arm is 15.00

check the fan belts, they are manually tightened on the rodeos.

are you sure with parts are the same as the old ones ? If so start again as you started the fitting in order to be sure that everything is in order. I believe either you haven't put the contact ( earth ) or you didn't tight it enough.

Mine did the same thing. After having the batt checked and being assured there was nothing wrong with it I went "old school" and pulled and cleaned the batt cable ends. Also cleaned the connections just downstream from the ends as they were easy to get to. Haven't had a starting problem in 8 months now so must have found something. Hope this helps ya . Sometimes we get so wound in in high tech that forget the KISS system of troubleshooting.

Sounds like starter motor brushes are stuck/bad. Starter replacement needed

could possibly be the starter or the solenoid ,you should replace the whole starter or have yours rebuilt

Had same problem last year in my 04 Taurus with V6 12 valave Vulcan engine. Engine spins over OK, fuel is pumping (you can smell it at tail pipe) but intermientently would not start. Sometimes would start on the first try, sometimes and the 10th, etc RIght after trying to start all gauges would peg all the way to the right for 20 or 30 seconds. Took it to garage and they said I would have to wait until it totally failed, their diagnostics could not troubleshoot. Finally it totally died. Engine never turned over sluggish, always spun over nicely until it just died completely. Then I could not even get a click out of the starter. I called AAA, they showed up and immediately the guy said, bad battery. He had seen the same symptom in quite a few Taurus's. I told him that it suddenly stopped and never had symptoms of a weak battery. He replaced battery and all has been perfect since ... go figure? Almost sounds like something may have been intermienttly arching internally to the battery, creating non-DC "dirty electrical noise" and freaking out the computer. Who knows .... ?

have you figured it out yet? i can sell you a used starter if you need one. i have alot of parts for this car.