Hi Jonathan,

I'm with you. The effort to replace a starter should be expended only once, and as long as I can remember, the rebuilt units you get at the local auto parts store tend to give you more experience with that effort than is needed.

Even the "Premium Bosch Reman" is susceptible.

If you're like me, you will find satisfaction in doing it yourself. Be sure you know which starter you're working on. The Volvo green books have repair procedures. Your NAPA store (and surely the others) can get you a drive for it or you can get one on line; of late I use aspwholesale.com. Doesn't matter if you call it an overrunning clutch, starter drive, or Bendix. The auto parts folks know what you want.



--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.

First of all it's not a Bendix drive. It's an over-running clutch drive, and the ramp/ball over-running clutch is worn and slipping. You can install a new clutch on the starter if you're up to dismantling it. It might be the contacts in the solenoid too. But if when you are cranking the engine the starter "winds up" and the engine doesn't spin on the starter, it's the over-running clutch. Sort of goes "wheeee".
Find a good automotive electric rebuilder locally and have them rebuild the starter you have rather than the crapshoot exchange method.

I doubt the issue is the bendix but rather the solenoid. the issue is not field rebuildable as far as I have read. That being said, used starters with a warranty are better that than most rebuilds.

I strongly suggest finding a "known good" starter, install it and have the old starter rebuilt by a local, trustworthy rebuilder. the common issue is the braid between the solenoid and the starter motor but is near impossible to fix yourself.