Sluggish, huh? These starters generally either do or don't... moving slow isn't likely the starter. Most surely not since you swapped a known-good starter in place with the suspect one and got the same result.

I'd check the starter cable -- sometimes they can corrode internally and look just fine externally. Check its resistance. I'm presumin that in replacing the battery and starter, you wire-brushed the cable ends and contacts to keep 'em clean?

Dunno about the "whoosh."

Randii

Randy Burleson
4x4Wire Managing Editor Emeritus
Mongrel Isuzu Amigo