On cold mornings mine (7 yr old 99) makes the vreer noise after the engine starts and as the engine lights up. It turns over every time, and starts every time, I just get this noise as the engine rpms come fully up for a sec or two/
this site says grease it
http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/516

and contains this statement about 2/3 way down
"This is where the noise came from. The large gear on this shaft is on a one-way clutch. The grease had dried out, and now was almost sticky. Remove the circle clip under the black plastic cap, and the gear slides off. Clean and re-grease. Make sure that you don't use too much grease. Assemble starter, and install it. Install everything that was removed."

My question - is this circle clip hard to get off? can it be regreased without taking the "gear" (clutch?????) off*

 

what I am really asking I guess do you have to take that part apart or will greasing the shafy it runs on solve the problem?

 

I'm having the same problem except my problem is worse. I'm actually replacing the starter when I clean out the TB saturday (if it doesn't rain). If the starter is sticking who knows what kind of damage is going on. True a new starter is about $138 bucks but if there is damage what's the point in re-greasing it. I think in one of the threads someone mentioned they only greased the part with the copper coil. Try looking in:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=452286

or

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=453490

 

I greased mine a couple years ago. I don't remember the details, but it was trivial. 160K and still going on the original starter.

 

It's fairly easy to take apart and see what might be binding up. I can't tell for sure what the problem areas are since the one I took apart was decent. I cleaned up the part with the magnets on the outside and silver shaft that appeared to spin inside there, seems like it could be the trouble spot.