Whirring or grinding… listen to my car.

[Don Holg]

Background: 2003 PT cruiser (non turbo) making noise after crank, noise is worse when cold or sitting long time. Everyone said it’s the starter going. So I replaced the starter with another used one. Still making the same noise, still worse when cold. Had battery load tested before starter swap and said everything was OK, but get weird voltage readings using multimeter on starter and body. Multiple ground straps discovered broken.

Some further reading has shown a few people with Jeeps getting this same thing before and after starter swap. They describe the noise as more a whirring than a grinding.

Could it be that something is causing the starter solenoid to not shut off when the ignition is released and so the starter is engaged longer than it should be and the flywheel keeps the starter spinning (hence the whirring) once the engine is engage, until the solenoid discharges or releases and the bendix moves away from the flywheel?

Though I could attach files. No go. Here’s link to them: http://ge.tt/3wOTSuz?c

Topic

[george gonzalez]

It could be a mechanical sticking and engagement of the gears, caused by the starter being too tight on the flywheel gear. Some cars you’re supposed to fit some shims between the starter and its mounting spot to avoid a too tight meshing there.

You do definitely need to have the engine securely bonded to the chassis, with several thickish braids. The negative battery cable should be going directly to the engine block.

You could have an electrical problem, ignition switches and auxiliary starter relays have been known to stick. The way to diagnose this is to clip on a test light directly across the starter’s input terminals (NOT the cable coming from the battery, the other side of the starter relay/solenoid). It’s probably not the starter relay/solenoid thats mounted on the starter as you probably replaced that when you replaced the starter.

So it’s probably a mounting clearance or a sticking ignition switch or if your car has one, an auxiliary starting relay between the ignition switch and the main starting solenoid/relay. A test lamp will tell all.

[george gonzalez]

It could also be some other thing, like a pulley with a bad bearing. An idler pulley, PS pump, or alternator. You need a friend to start the car while you listen under the hood.

[EricTheCarGuy]

It could be an electrical issue. You could verify it by checking the power feed going into the starter solenoid. If after the key is released it continues to deliver power, you might have an issue there. I think it’s more likely to be a mechanical issue. Either a faulty starter, or it’s alignment might be off. Some starters may have to be shimmed when installed. Here’s a video I did on that topic. You can also use the information in the video to check the starter drive gear contact pattern.

Keep us posted on your progress.

[Bill]

It doesn’t sound like the starter to me. Is the car automatic or stick?

[Its me]

I am going with something that is belt driven and has bearings……. PS pump perhaps… Also Chrysler Water pumps are known for looking fine, then take off the belt and you can wobble them by hand…. Perhaps something tranny related, but more info is needed….

As stated, someone to start the car while you listen for the location would help immensely…

-Karl

[Author]

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