Quite often, when I start my 1982 Ford Granada, it doesn’t crank, but makes a scraping or grinding noise. I have to release the key and try it again until it cranks. I would like to know if the problem could be caused by something else besides the starter motor, such as a solenoid or worn gear.
Yes …
Unlikely. The noise you hear is the overrunning clutch in the starter drive slipping. Replace the starter.
Can’t speak to OP’s car, but the final drive mechanism is a relatively inexpensive replacement part for my 50 year old ford truck’s starter. 302 engine. I’ve never had to replace it, truck still has original starter motor. Tip: Good idea to keep your Ford’s battery fully charged, cranking attempts with a weak battery is hard on starters.