My 95 Integra LS starter grinds when engaging flywheel and starter drive apparently kicks out and spins free.
Had starter tested and it passed.
Hit a big puddle last night and sucked water into the combustion chambers. Took out spark plugs and the engine spins freely.
We're at a loss of what to check next, Ideas?

 

how did the ring gear look? it chewed up? how about the starter pinion? sometimes the ring gear can be positioned in such a way that it binds with the pinion. if you can rotate the motor manually, even just a hair, the pinion will engage. did you try that?

 

We removed the inspection cover on the flywheel and rotated it about 90 degrees and the starter engaged. We replaced the flywheel cover and it turned over once and after that starter went back to grinding.

 

hmm. and the ring gear and pinion looked decent? nothing chewed up?
if so, i'm thinking the starter is cocked. either something is up with the mounting surfaces, or when you installed it, it went in cocked

 

It was doing this before we unmounted it initially, so we don't think it's cocked. We've yet to examine the whole flywheel to see if it's chewed up at all. Is it possible that the starter drive/ "Bendix" is failing and causing this?

 

yea, if it was doing this before, it wouldn't be cocked. could have been loose originally, but you would have seen that anyways.
well, if it's not cocked, and the ring gear looks decent, then yea, i'd have to say the plunger isn't engaging the pinion far enough. either way, if those 2 requirements are met, it's gotta be something wrong with the starter. nothing else it could be. try another one then

 

Ahhh, after messing with the flywheel for awhile longer and trying to turn it over a nice size hole in the oil pan revealed itself. I must've thrown a connecting rod or something trying to start it after I hit the puddle. Good thing i Didn't buy a new starter yet at least

 

not sure how that would cause starter whine though