treimche

2005 S2000 now with over 146,000 miles and it makes this grinding/screech noise once in a while on cold startup. It only happens for a half second or so and goes away. I can't pinpoint the exact scenario when it happens though. From my searching, it doesn't seem to be the noise a typical failing cam chain tensioner makes. Maybe its one of the pulleys? I did pop the belt off the other day and the tensioner pulley seemed a bit wobbly and rough, or maybe it was the idler, I can check again but both felt a bit rough.

Just stumbled across something else that said this noise could even be the starter?

Car Analogy

Search for cold start noise. You will find no end to threads about it. Its the starter.

All S do it when its cold out. There is no reliable fix. Its harmless, and merely annoying.

Everyone just learns to live with it.

GSteg

It's apparent in many older Honda 4cyl as the starter starts to show their age. Thankfully mine doesn't do that (yet), but it's not as cold here as it is in ND.

treimche

Thank you for the help. I'm guessing that replacing the starter would eliminate the noise.

windhund116

May wish to look at this video on starter Bendix unit. How it works and how to free it up. Even though, not Honda car starter... principle is the same.

kschoenefeld

My Type-S RSX does it too. Consensus is not to worry about it.