On a cold start when I turn the key and just before motor should start running I can hear hard -KLANG!- noise. Like when metal hits metal. Then on a second try I turn engine on with no problems. Besides that engine runs normal. It happens, lets say once in a 10 days or so. It is 22RE in question. Should it be a starter related problem... or something more serious?

 

Visually inspect the fly wheel. Big wrench and socket on the crank shaft pully bolt, turn it clockwise. Sounds like maybe it's missing a tooth or cracked and the starter lines up with it once in awhile. Remove the starter if needed to get visual access, also give the starter a visual inspection since you're under there already.

If it was a bearing gone missing it would bang alot more often, and not just when starting.

maybe a squirl nesting in the fan shroud leaving nuts.

 

I just ran into a similar situation. Mine had two bad teeth on the fly wheel and they werent worn much. Dont know what caused the problem to begin with, but I had to swap flywheels.

Like was previously mentioned with the starter out and if you see any slight damage on the flywheel. It should stand out from the rest of the teeth. Really doesnt take much for the starter to slip and then catch on good teeth.