Lately, when the car has been sitting in the garage 2-3 days and I go to start it up one morning, the starter makes that scratching noise (makes you cringe) for a second. It's the equivalent of holding down our engine start buttons, even after the car has started (you get that horrible scratching noise). On other cars, it's the equivalent of holding the key in the ON position, even after the car has started. Obviously, I'm not holding down the start button, but it seems perhaps something is "sticky" inside the starter/engine and is not releasing the pinion(?) quickly enough. The amount and speed of cranking is normal and the car starts up fine. The only issue is that once the car starts, it seems like the pinion (or whatever) isn't released quickly enough and makes that sound. This only happens when the car's been sitting a few days.

I have nearly 170k miles on the my 2003 S2000 and the starter has never been replaced. The car is stock. Is this a telltale sign that the starter might be on its way out soon? If so, that's great since I can replace it now and not be stranded in the middle of nowhere when the car doesn't start at all.

Thanks.

 

Sounds like another thread for the Under the Hood forum

 

i have this same issue with my car going on 4 years with the issue... It is the pinion not retracting back fast enough. Shouldnt get stranded. Good thing about standards you can always pop the clutch Im just going to wait till its completely gone and need a new starter...

 

My '05 AP2 w/~84k miles has done it for the last year-or-so. So far no issues.

 

my 04 ap2 does that sometimes but im not to worry about it but if u like u can always replace the starter

 

Mine has 176k on it and has done it for the last 30-40k. I'll get around to fixing it eventually ( which usually means it'll quit at worst time and I'll be forced to fix it )

 

My 02 has been doing the same thing for the past 10k. Only at 50k right now. This seems to be a common problem, when you let the car sit for a while. I wouldnt worry about it till it quits working. Whats the worst that could happen..... Just kick start it if you have to

 

Yeah, happens on my00 as well. I just tried to grease the shaft that the starter gear rides back and forth on in an attempt to fix it. No luck, still have the noise every now and then, particularly on cold days.

 

I have the same problem, but ONLY when it's sitting overnight and it's cold in the mornings, 35-45(?) in the garage on a very slight angle leaning back.

I was under the impression that it was due to oil getting thin in the cold and draining out, as it doesn't happen when the car sits for a day at work..

 

same problem here as well on my 04 with 79k miles. seems to be random for me though instead of only when the car's cold. it's been going on for about 2k miles. i figured i'd just get it looked at the next time the car's at the shop.