When changing the starter on our 94 ford ranger XLT,6CYL 3.0L, what could the loud grinding noise be, if starter has been replaced @ least 3 times??

Might need to use shims when installing new starter. This will position starter farther from flywheel. Most new starters come with a shim kit. Did you notice if the first starter you removed had a shim behind it?

No. Bad choice i know...but we brought the first starter that went bad to pull apart and got a starter off of a Ford ranger there...that didnt work...then went to auto zone that one went bad. ..then got another starter feom auto zone that didnt do much good...so now we have a new starter from orielys and its still making that horrific noise.

Dang most Auto zone starters have a lifetime warranty.

Yeah we traded them out...only to still have the problem. My fiance put shims on the starter that didn't work. We the the flywheel that didn't do it...so now what. ..I'm thinking it has something to do with the starter not hitting right with the flywheel but what do you do for that problem. It cranks, we could drive it if we wanted to but the noise is soooo loud you can't hear yourself think...i can't drive it like that.

Yeah we changed it. It doesnt seem to be the problem. But we'll check it out and let you know. Thank you jim.