When you say it did not want to start, did the car make any noise during those failed attempts? Or was there really bad grinding sounds and the engine didn't turn over?
And if I'm understanding you say that when it did start you had the grinding noise as it was starting.
The noise started right when the original starter went out.
Can I read this to mean that the noise started when the replacement starters where engaged? I strongly suspect that the starter needs to be shimmed to align with the flywheel. If you had a replacement transmission installed, the shop that installed the tranny probably shimmed the started to match it at the time. The installed transmission may be out of spec just a bit.
A couple references about shimming a GM starter (these are discussions about chevys, same applies to Buick)...
how to shim a starter and more instruction.
The folks who installed your starter should know about shimming starters. But since you've tried them twice, I'd suggest you ask the transmission shop to listen to the car start and diagnose the problem for you.
Since you had the transmission replaced, that makes the odds of starter/flywheel being out of alignment much higher necessitating the use of shims.
When it did not want to start I turned the ignition and all of the lights came on and there was a click, click, click noise but no screeching noises.
When it finally turned over, it did not make the clicking noise but instead made that loud screeching noise just at start up.
Oh, and the mechanic who put the starter in said that when it is on tight, that is when the car does not want to start but when the starter on on loose, it will start and make that screeching noise.
I called the transmission people and I am bringing the car in tomorrow so they can look at this.
Thanks. This has been a real headache.
Was he supposed to have a shim kit with him when he put the starter in? All I saw was a starter he put in as he did this at my house.