Did you put new starter fluid in the engine? You need to take an impact drill and drill a hole into EACH piston. Then, put starter fluid. Then, just weld the holes closed. I can't believe you guys don't know this little trick. Then, for your gas tank. You need to clean it with bleach. Just put a few cups of bleach and ammonia in there. Turn on your car and ram it through your garage, go in reverse really fast and put it in park as you're rolling. Then, while holding the break and gas petal down, put it in drive and go right back into your garage/neighbor's garage. This will mix the concoction. Anything at the bottom will be dissolved. The faster you go, the better job you'll do. Then, go driving down the road. When stopped at a stop light, make sure your driver's side is closest to the white line. Why? So you can kick open the door into the person's car. How will this help youll ask. Well, itll loosen up some bolts and really test your car insurance' patients. To better mix the concoction, go over speed bump at about 30 mph. Make sure you do this in front of a cop. He will LOVE YOU! Don't lose control of your vehicle. If you do, well. You're an idiot for listening to some guy on the internet.

Sounds like the starter solenoid. Most vehicles combine the starter motor with the solenoid as a single unit mounted on the lower engine. Although Ford used a separate starting solenoid which is usually mounted by the battery.

no sound from the starter ? that could be dirty battery terminals, the solenoid on the starter or the ignition switch ! the next time it does that tap on the starter and then try to start it, if it fires right up then change the solenoid

Sounds like you have a 'hot spot' in the starter. I have had to replace the starter for this issue on my car. I would turn the key off/on about six times before it would crank.

Is replacing the starter the only solution to the hotspot?

I turn the key 4,5 times and nothing- no starter grinding or anything. Then I turn it again and it starts instantly. I have a new battery and cables. Is that the ignition going bad? The starter?