Terrible grinding noise when I turn key.

[Talon96esi]

I have a 95 talon esi automatic, it will not start and when i turn the key, i just get this terrible grinding noise. some say it could be the flywheel/flexplate, others are saying it could be the starter, my check engine light flashes on and off and on the right i am getting a yellow light that looks like a box thats low on fluid..im at a loss on where to begin, any help would be greatly apreciated. thank you



[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5gHG5ov_P4]Talon esi flywheel/flexplate or possible starter, - YouTube[/ame]

 

[BogusSVO]

Well it is one or the other.

If a few teeth on the flywheel are busted off, or the bendix is weak/bad in the starter, you will get the grind sound.

Only way to know is pull the starter, and inspect the teeth in the bendix and on the flywheel.

 

[Talon96esi]

If its not the starter ( which while i have it off ill just put a new one in ) Will i be able to see the teeth on the flywheel just by removing the starter? Or will more things be needed to come off?

 

[erkitner]

You will be able to see the teeth of the flywheel with the help of a flashlight. Unfortunately, you will only be able to see just a few teeth at a time. Like 4 or 5. In order to see more teeth at a time, get under the vehicle and look between the block and the transmission. You'll see a lot more under there. If your engine has a flywheel cover, obviously remove that first.

Rotate the engine as needed to see all the teeth.

 

[Afizzle]

you dont have to pull the starter. spade a wire and slide it on the solenoid, touch the other end of the wire to your battery and see if it whips up or makes your grinding noise.

if it is the starter, dont buy a parts store brand or youll be replacing it again in a few months. go OEM or nothing.

or sell it and buy a turbo so its actually worth fixing

just my 2c

If its not the starter ( which while i have it off ill just put a new one in ) Will i be able to see the teeth on the flywheel just by removing the starter? Or will more things be needed to come off?

i hope youre not basing thebad starter on a parts store testing station. that is not real world application. trust me, only test your starter on the battery cranking it before diagnosing it good or bad.

TRUST ME

 

[DropSomeMoney]

It's most likely your starter. There are multiple parts in the starter that could be making it make this sound. It could be the inner workings of the drive(Bendix) has worn out or the teeth on it have been eaten up. Or it could be the copper bushings in the front and back end have also worn out and the armature is just bumping alond the magnets inside the barrel witch would possible be making the drive slam into the flywheel. My suggestion to you would be to take it to a local starter/alternator rebuilder and have them rebuild it anywhere from $45 to $70. Just make sure you get a warranty for at least a year. They put in the same china made parts you are going to get from anywhere else when you buy new. Support your local rebuilders. Or if you want to research starters yourself you can rebuild it yourself. Good luck.

 

[TG924]

After testing the starter, if you need to go new you should absolutely go OEM if you are also not rebuilding it. A local mechanic had put a new starter (not OEM) in my eclipse when I bought it. I got the grinding noise etc about one month later. after researching on this site and testing the starter, I replaced it myself with an OEM....not a problem since.