Mustang grinds after start

Scumlabs · August 23rd, 2009, 11:51 PM

Hey guys,

I bought my car used a few months ago. I noticed that my car makes a slight grinding sound a second after I start my car. Sometimes its so quick it sounds like a click, but lately it sounds almost like a series of fast clicks or grinding.

This is more likely to happen on a cold start. After I start up the car in the morning, hear the noise, and turn off my car, I'll go to start it again and I won't hear any noises.

I've read around and it looks like some other people have the same problem. When it comes down to it, is my starter going bad? Or is this a more serious problem?

I have a 2000 Mustang V6 with an aftermarket CAI.

Thanks in advance. REP to anyone that helps me out.

-- 00whitestang

Assassin_Dan · August 24th, 2009, 02:06 AM

Hmmmm your starter might not be disengaging completly, Thats where I would start. If your fairly handy you can pull the starter out pretty quick and give it a once over. Check to see if the teeth are worn/damaged.

Scumlabs · August 24th, 2009, 01:23 PM

I took my car to Autozone about a month ago to have my starter tested.

The guy said they haven't used to machine yet, but proceeded to hook up the machine to my car. After disengaging my battery as directed, I cranked the engine a few times, and he told me that my starter checked out. Could it be that the machine doesn't detect that the bendix isn't disengaging?

Assassin_Dan · August 24th, 2009, 07:45 PM

I have never heard of a starter tester before.... but I imagine the machine only tests the electrical aspect of the starter and not the mechanical.

dansgt · August 24th, 2009, 08:00 PM

^the machine does only test the electrical. the guy has to watch and see if the gear engages and disengages.
the machine your talking about though tests electrical, to test the starter properly it has to be off the car. take the starter off and inspect it. how do the teeth looks? sounds like a sticky starter or a bad gear, hopefully on the starter itself and not flywheel.

843marc · August 24th, 2009, 10:52 PM

when was last time you had oil change? engine wear is worst at crank and that could be grinding noise..and reason why it doesnt make noise on second start

dansgt · August 24th, 2009, 11:36 PM

^typically engines dont get that dry after sitting, there's usually a constant coat of oil on moving parts, and even then if it grinds, its not gonna stop from oil, it'd continue just quiter.
my money's on a sticking starter, if it stays extended it'll sound like that.

Scumlabs · August 25th, 2009, 12:43 PM

thanks for the help dansgt

+rep

330CubeGt · August 25th, 2009, 03:21 PM

August 23rd, 2009, 11:51 PM	#1
Scumlabs Newbie Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 45 iTrader: 0 reviews	Mustang grinds after start Hey guys, I bought my car used a few months ago. I noticed that my car makes a slight grinding sound a second after I start my car. Sometimes its so quick it sounds like a click, but lately it sounds almost like a series of fast clicks or grinding. This is more likely to happen on a cold start. After I start up the car in the morning, hear the noise, and turn off my car, I'll go to start it again and I won't hear any noises. I've read around and it looks like some other people have the same problem. When it comes down to it, is my starter going bad? Or is this a more serious problem? I have a 2000 Mustang V6 with an aftermarket CAI. Thanks in advance. REP to anyone that helps me out. -- 00whitestang

August 24th, 2009, 02:06 AM	#2
Assassin_Dan Regular 1998 Mustang V6 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 226 iTrader: 0 reviews	Hmmmm your starter might not be disengaging completly, Thats where I would start. If your fairly handy you can pull the starter out pretty quick and give it a once over. Check to see if the teeth are worn/damaged. __________________ CAI, Screamin' Demon Coil, Livewires, Steeda Tri-ax, Steeda Clutch Quadrant and Adjuster, UDP, 8.8 rear end with 3.73's, 1/2 inch VAP intake spacer, SCT X3.

August 24th, 2009, 07:45 PM	#4
Assassin_Dan Regular 1998 Mustang V6 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 226 iTrader: 0 reviews	I have never heard of a starter tester before.... but I imagine the machine only tests the electrical aspect of the starter and not the mechanical. __________________ CAI, Screamin' Demon Coil, Livewires, Steeda Tri-ax, Steeda Clutch Quadrant and Adjuster, UDP, 8.8 rear end with 3.73's, 1/2 inch VAP intake spacer, SCT X3.

August 24th, 2009, 08:00 PM	#5
dansgt Hardcore Enthusiast 03 gt, 95 740i, 96 disco Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mo Posts: 1,298 iTrader: 2 reviews	^the machine does only test the electrical. the guy has to watch and see if the gear engages and disengages. the machine your talking about though tests electrical, to test the starter properly it has to be off the car. take the starter off and inspect it. how do the teeth looks? sounds like a sticky starter or a bad gear, hopefully on the starter itself and not flywheel. __________________

August 24th, 2009, 11:36 PM	#7
dansgt Hardcore Enthusiast 03 gt, 95 740i, 96 disco Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mo Posts: 1,298 iTrader: 2 reviews	^typically engines dont get that dry after sitting, there's usually a constant coat of oil on moving parts, and even then if it grinds, its not gonna stop from oil, it'd continue just quiter. my money's on a sticking starter, if it stays extended it'll sound like that. __________________

August 24th, 2009, 01:23 PM	#3
Scumlabs Newbie Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 45 iTrader: 0 reviews	I took my car to Autozone about a month ago to have my starter tested. The guy said they haven't used to machine yet, but proceeded to hook up the machine to my car. After disengaging my battery as directed, I cranked the engine a few times, and he told me that my starter checked out. Could it be that the machine doesn't detect that the bendix isn't disengaging?

August 24th, 2009, 10:52 PM	#6
843marc Regular 2012 5.0 12.91@ 111 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: florence,sc Posts: 86 iTrader: 0 reviews	when was last time you had oil change? engine wear is worst at crank and that could be grinding noise..and reason why it doesnt make noise on second start

August 25th, 2009, 12:43 PM	#8
Scumlabs Newbie Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 45 iTrader: 0 reviews	thanks for the help dansgt +rep

August 25th, 2009, 03:21 PM	#9
330CubeGt MM Fanatic 1997 SVT COBRA 1996 Mustang V6 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Orlando Posts: 4,880 iTrader: 14 reviews	__________________ -04 IRS - Magnaflow - Wheel Replica - Autometer - FTBR - FRPP - SCT - Brembo - PRO 5.0 - BOI-

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
Ford Mustang Forum Advertisement

Threads Similar to: Mustang grinds after start
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
third gear grinds	russtoy	99-04	5	May 16th, 2008 10:02 PM
2nd Grinds	Lefty	Modular Mustangs	3	March 11th, 2008 08:44 AM
Custom grinds	Doc8224	4V / SVT	11	January 20th, 2008 05:16 PM
T-5 Grinds second	Drick	5.0 Mustangs	8	September 18th, 2007 01:17 PM
starter grinds	johnnyboy	General Tech	8	July 14th, 2006 01:12 PM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:39 PM.
Contact Us - Modded Mustangs : Ford Mustang Forums - Privacy Statement - Top
Modded Mustangs is ©2005-2008, All Rights Reserved, And is Not Affiliated with Ford Motor Company. Forum is powered by vBulletin ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Ent. Ltd. & SEO by vBSEO 3.3.2 ©2009, Crawlability, Inc.