Weird Starter Noise

[mnetwork]

Ok... for the last month I've been having this weird issue with my starter... When I go to start my car for the first time that day it starts up and after the motor runs a squealing noise comes from the car for a second after. it sounds a tiny bit like if the starter weren't disengaging the flywheel, but the weirdest part of this is that it only happens when the car is cold and hasn't been started in a while. After that first cold start it never happens again till the next time it gets a FULLY cold start... it is very consistent with this. Any ideas on this???

 

[weldtuner]

Are you sure it's not just a squealing belt?

 

[luv2rallye]

Check harmonic balancer for separation and belts tension.

 

[toybreaker]

That's the starter/bendix crying out in agony for some lubrication.

Remove starter, apply moly/high temp grease of your choice to the starter shaft and end bushing, (sparingly) and rotate/slide the starter gear over it a few times.

Re-install starter, and you're good to go!

Downside?... now you can hear your lifters at start up again.

 

[Defiant]

I'm with the harmonic balancer theory.

 

[toybreaker]

The best way to narrow this down is to remove all the accesory belts, and then cold start the car.

This will remove the load of the alternator, power steering pump, and etc. This will also give an opprotunity to visually inspect the harmonic balancer. It will also allow him to spin the accessories by hand and see if he has a temperature related issue with the power steering pump or alternator.

While you're in there, make a paint mark from the inner hub to the outer ring of the dampner. This will allow a quick visual check of the integrity of the dampner in the future.

However, I'm fairly sure he's describing a problem with the starter.
(Either a weak bendix, lack of lubrication, or other starter related issue.) It will make a squeek/squeel/funky spinning down sound, but only on the first cold start of the day.

Good luck, and please let us know what you find!

 

[forcefed4]

Ok... for the last month I've been having this weird issue with my starter... When I go to start my car for the first time that day it starts up and after the motor runs a squealing noise comes from the car for a second after. it sounds a tiny bit like if the starter weren't disengaging the flywheel, but the weirdest part of this is that it only happens when the car is cold and hasn't been started in a while. After that first cold start it never happens again till the next time it gets a FULLY cold start... it is very consistent with this. Any ideas on this???

My car did the same thing. Check you harmonic balancer first, but mine ended up being the starter. Pull it off and either lube it as described as above, or just replace it.

 

[mnetwork]

Yes, I'm going to try to get this all figured out when I get the chance.. This weekend is pretty much booked but I should be going at it this week. So if it was the starter it would be possible for it to do this only one the first cold start? Because that was the weirdest part of this whole thing to me..

 

[mnetwork]

I already knew this wasn't the harmonic balancer becaus it was coming from the starter.. but anyway..

I just fixed this ealier today.. I didn't feel like messing with the starter.. so I replaced it and everything is ok now.. I guess the first start of the day the gear wasn't retracting fast enough for some reason..