Car has been at the body shop for two weeks. Front bumper cover was being replaced. Ok, fine but I never had an problems with it starting or driving or what not. First ten days at the shop it was fine too as they moved it around as needed. Now it won't start. Battery checks, plugs check, I went and looked myself and the only thing that might seem off (other than not starting) was that the cranking sounded more like spinning. It almost seemed to me the starter was shot. Now I'm not out any money either way whether it be insurance for the accident, the body shop if they screwed something up, or something covered under car warranty, but has anybody ever encountered anything like this?

FWIW, the car is going to the local Mazda dealer on Monday. Probably something stupid with my luck.

 

If it sounds like an electric motor freely spinning, then the starter gear isn't engaging the flywheel ring gear.

In the old days we'd say "The Bendix is shot," but these days starters don't use Bendix drives. The solenoid moves a yoke that positively engages the starter to the flywheel.

Either starter gear or flywheel.

FWIW, I've had a couple of cars (both Bendix drive and modern style) with this problem, and it was the starter gear, not the flywheel.

Ken