Flex plate

Hi this is Dusty, I'm one of the auto experts on RepairPal's Car Genius team. That grinding sound always reminds me of bad trips to the dentist, yikes! As for replacement of the starter, that's a pretty common repair for any vehicle of that era. Once your engine is up and running, the starter's mission is complete until the next time you start it. So, the shutting off while driving is unrelated to the starter, and should be diagnosed, and remedied. A loss of power like that is a safety concern, for you and fellow motorists. Anytime there's missing teeth on a starter or a flex-plate (or flywheel) the cause should be investigated, it could be due to age or improper mounting, or other mechanical issues and will continue to get worse. If you have any other questions feel free to give us a call at 877-913-1554! We'll be happy to help or find you a certified shop in your area!