Starter?

[Tee]

We may be getting ahold of a 96 Grand Am, the guy selling it said it just died one day. When you try to start it, the motor won't turn over but it sounds it's trying to. I'm not sure if it's the Bendix or what? I'm going to take my breaker bar and a socket and try to turn the motor by hand. If I can't turn it I probably won't get the car. Can anyone give some hints that may point to a bad starter? Thanks!
Regards,
Tee

[torq455]

good battery? a bad starter will draw a lot of extra current and run the battery down fast and make the starter cable very hot. or the solenoid is bad preventing the current from turning the starter. or the starter is just fried. also had that same situation on a 3.8. turned out the head gasket or head was causing coolant to leak into the cylinder causing a hydralock situation. starter tried to turn the engine, but noticed the engine turning back after letting up. try jumping it.

[sharkey]

try jumping it. if the guy will let you, pull the plugs out of it and have a look at them, and try turning it over with the plugs out.