Eeekkkkkk!!!!!

[iLkYsPoNy]

Ok... what the hell is that noise! When it's cold and rainy here ( as it has been for months, im in northern Ohio ) and I start my car, there is a loud schreech sound for split second. It's definetly not a belt noise... I'm almost thinking it's my starter? Its happened 4 times all together, two of which were last night and this morning.

I've heard horror stories about certain headers messing up the starter, clutch cable, etc. Is this true with long tube BBK's? I sure hope not... any help would be appreciated!

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

Sounds like the noise a starter makes when it's not engaging the ring gear on the flywheel.

 

[bullitstang1313]

Sounds like the noise of the bendix in the starter not engaging correctly. Headers can have an effect on the starter, but usually it is because of the extra heat that radiates from them. This heat can kill the electrical parts of a starter but shouldn't have an effect on the bendix.

 

[seijirou]

The gear is most likely not disengaging all the way from the flywheel. Alot of times when you buy a new starter it will come with shims for this very reason. Yours may be getting old and tired so it's not withdrawing all the way. I've put some washers in with the bolts of a starter that was doing this before, and it solved the problem for another year until the starter crapped out entirely.

 

[HISSIN50]

All sound good to me. If you have ever listened to some moron try to start a car that's already idling (their head being so far up their butt keeps them from hearing the engine idle), that's the kind of bendix noise you'll hear if it doesnt engage clean (kind of a grind or schreech-zinnnnnnnnnggggggggggg! type sound).

If it hangs, it makes more of a grinding/screech noise as the ring gear spins the bendix.

Does it do it before the engine starts to crank over or after it catches?

It could also be an accessory that's kinda sticking (I'm thinking smog pump here, if you have one).

Good luck.

 

[iLkYsPoNy]

see it's really wierd. it only happens on cold COLD mornings and evenings. it's a split second sound and from what my trained auto ears tell me is that it's coming from close to the fire wall. thats why i figure its' the starter.

so the easiest way to fix this condition is to replace it?

 

[seijirou]

Yeah, best is to replace it.

The washer trick is for us po' folk.

 

[HISSIN50]

I guess we should also ask if it's got a mini-style starter (or something with dual starter relays). You can see an inductance-type issue sometimes with dual relays which are not wired properly.

Make sure the motor ground is in good shape too.

Good luck.