Noise on starting - solved

[darrenk]

About once a week for the last month, I've been hearing a noise after the engine starts. It lasts from 2-10 seconds. Kind of a ticking, metal on metal rubbing. I have not been able to catch it to take a video. Until today that is.....
The difference is that the noise didn't stop once the engine was running.



I stopped the engine, and it didn't repeat when I restarted (or for the rest of the day). The noise is louder towards the back (also loud when you listen from below (behind the front tire)).

Is it possible the starter gear is not releasing occasionally?

 

[SteveH]

Check your battery voltage while running and making the sound. In some cases where the starter is still engaged after engine start, it becomes a generator (effectively) and will cause the system voltage to go way up. This is true for an 80 series; not sure it's true for a 100 series. Costs nothing to try this, at least.

 

[marc2]

Did you confirm it’s the starter? I had the same noise that would go away with restarting the engine.

 

[darrenk]

I never did. It stopped making the noise about 2 weeks after I ordered the intake manifold gaskets for changing the starter. It hasn't made it since. Go figure...

 

[darrenk]

I should close this.
Pretty sure the noise was the starter gear not retracting 100% and then being hit by the flywheel until it finally retracted. The gear finally broke off, two years later. It kept making the same noise right up until it failed - every 2 or 3 weeks, and a little more frequent near the end .
I kept putting off the job (almost 2 years after this started) as I kept reading what an awful job changing the starter was - it really wasn't.