Every now and again when I start my car after it's had time to cool down, it will make a grinding noise during start up, Has anyone else had this problem, it's done this since I've had the car, but seems to be getting worse. Can any one help?

 

Does it sound sort of like a gear grind when you shift badly? It may be your starter motor drive shaft not retracting after you start the car. Are you letting go of the button quickly enough after the engine fires or is this grinding happening before you even begin to let go of the button?

 

I noticed this as well, but it mainly only happens when the A/C is on when the car is started. When this happens (which is about a few times a month) you cannot prevent it even if you start the car and immediately take your hand off the start button.

 

Hit the A/C button on and off and see if the noise is evident. The starter motor and the A/C compressor should not be related. Perhaps we are talking about different kinds of "grinding".

 

mrfrieze, i currently have this problem in my s2k 01. My mechanic said "sometimes the starter drive clutch does not fully retract and the engine starting spins it so fast it makes a whine noise until it retracts completely."

Two things you can do. (if it is the starter). You can keep using it till it breaks and then just replace it ($200-300 part) or you can relube the drive clutch and get a few more months out of it till it starts doing it again.

Personally i'd recommend just replacing it or leaving it till it breaks, it isn't damaging your engine (even tho it sounds like it).

 

Thanks man...

 

Are you sure it's not your timing chain tensioner? This is a common problem, and has been mistaken for a bad starter many times.

 

No im not sure, I guess I'll take it to have the tensioner looked at. Thanks for all your help.

 

hmmm.. when was the last time u changed battery? it's possible low voltage going thru your starter or not enough ground.