Starter problems

Sometimes you can remove flywheel cover and see if starter pinion gear is kicking out? Also, check flywheel teeth. If pinion gear kicks out and hits the flywheel but teeth don't engage, it will make terrible racket.

You can take the starter off, lay it on the ground, hook up your jumper cables to starter from battery, see if it spins and kicks out the pinion gear. That is no load test, not conclusive, if the pinion gear still won't kick out, replace the starter assembly. Some of the national brand autostores will test the starter for you, if you take to them.