Just in case it is a starter with one or a few bad spots on the armature, take a friend and go to the vehicle with a hammer. Strike the starter repeatedly with the hammer as other person turns the key to start it. If that works, you need a starter.

 

Seriously man,

I would definitely replace the ground terminals BEFORE you go beating on the starter with a hammer.

But it's yours so have fun with the hammer. Tap might be more appopropriate word than strike. Strike implies forceful contact.

 

Yes, thanks for the correction Danny. I by no way meant to beat on it like driving a nail through treated hardwood or something. More along the lines of putting a picture hanger into drywall or something.

 

I think you will end up with a new starter. Of course , do the due diligenge and replace/check all connections. I replaced my starter a couple of years ago after going thru the same simptoms. I don't think it was expensive.

 

I helped the po with a problem exactly as described. He did everything he could think of. I finally sat sat down and read the owners manual(I know, a wimp's way out) and noticed that, IIRC, if you lock the vehicle with the key fob and unlock it with the key, it can disable the starter. All we did was replace the battery in his fob and no more starting issues. May not be your problem, but worth a looksee.

 

I believe if it truly is an alarm system issue, it would not be so sporadic.

Did you try the new ground terminations? Cheapest and it ensures a sound connection going forward instead of depending on what is most likely the original from the date of manufacture.

If it repeats after that the starter is a good candidate. You could drop it out and take it to a rebuilder to check out. I found a used one for around 50 bucks, it's sitting on my shelf looking pretty since the new ground terminations fixed mine... Or get one of those super starters that's about 200 bucks.