Noise on start-up
 

Yesterday afternoon I suddenly got this weird loud noise on start-up.
It seems that it goes away if I start up the car when the engine is warm (cant say that is 100% fact though).
Any Ideas on what it could be before I take it to the mechanic?

I checked my oil and it is in the middle of low and full. It looks a little dirty even though I had it changed about 1.5K miles ago.
Coolant looks good and is full.
Powersteering fluid looks full.
The transmission, gear, and clutch fluid have also recently been done.

It sounds like maybe the belt is slipping or something, but usually that would be a higher pitched squeak... maybe water pump?

Something is definitely going bad though.

pic doesnt work,,how many miles? sounds like a worn belt to me.

Is there something that was done to the car?

It's not a pic. Its a video. It's working for me. Probably your computer settings.

Other than maintenance. No.

Starting it with warm engine seems to fix the problem. I'm guessing a pump or valve is going bad.

Maintenance?? what kind of maintenance? Please note all them that was recently done on the car. this would definitely help us to evaluate the passible cause.

Sounds like an idler pulley going bad or a belt slipping to me.

I agree. Idler pulley or something accessory that the belt spins, water pump, Alt. a bearing in one of them for sure.
I would check the belt, if it's good, pull it off and spin each pulley by hand until you find the one making noise.

Not working for me either and im on an iphone....need to remove that youtu.be from the end of your link as it doesnt work with that on this forum

ok it sounds like a starter going bad, like as if its miss aligned to the cranks teeth, some one sad earlier that it might be the belt, but if it is then let the car idle...when the rpm drops to ~700rpm normal operation u should hear the belt squeek, a little like ....squeek...skqeek....skqeek every time the cylinder fires, if u dont have that then i think its the starter.

Agreed, i know what the belt going out sounds like cause mine is starting to go out and the sound i heard in the video is no where close to the sound my Z is making at the moment which is the sound that doom described exactly

Mostly likely would be the starter. It has same sound on my rsx when it was loose.

That's why I'm asking what was done..

Nothing. By normal maintenance, I meant just oil and fluid changes.
I just got back from work. The car sat for 8 hours and didn't make any noises this time...
Should I still be worried? or am I safe if it just stops doing it for some reason?
the car drives and idles just fine.

It did it again this morning, but not at night...

Whats the condition of your battery?

Have it checked out as a weak battery will affect how it starts.

IF your battery checks out? Have the starter looked at.

Yea I know you'll have to remove it.

IF you continue to use it all that'll happen is it probably wont start.

I suggest that you have it looked at by a qualified Mechanic IF you have NO skills or tools.

Good Luck!

Your car is obviously drinking too much alcohol or maybe just getting older.

I agree with Trips. If it's the starter, worst case is it fails and strands you somewhere. I would have a mechanic look at it sooner rather than later.

:iagree:


That being said, it sounds like a starter is hanging up. The Bendix is not fully retracting until you rev the motor, then it goes back in. Time for a trip to the shop and get a new starter.

Today it hasn't done it at all and started just fine on several occasions.
Ill probably get it looked at next week if anything.

Just in case there is any confusion... I don't have any problems starting the car, even with the noise. The car starts up fine, I don't have to rev it or anything when the noise occurs.

Pretty sure there wasn't any confusion. You were just being warned that IF you continue to use it, the more likely it will break and your car won't start. Personally, I would have it looked at asap because I don't like getting stranded places.

After two days, it hasn't done it anymore... I aint worried.
If I do get stranded, Ill let you know so you can all laugh at me.

Why not? The noise you heard is an indication of a problem. Do you really think whatever was making the noise suddenly fixed itself and is perfectly fine now?

I'm more interested in that Z getting healthy than laughing at you :twocents:

Not to be a jerk to OP, but JAR, we've given him our advice based on lots of years of working on cars, and he has chosen to ignore it. I know what I heard on the video, and starter problems don't fix themselves. OP, good luck with your car.

Hi, Actually sounds like a problem with the starter drive gear not fully releasing and/or quickly enough. It could even be a loose starter meaning it's no longer aligned correctly. Since the sound stops fairly quickly after you stop cranking the engine over that's what makes me think of a starter problem...something to consider. This type of problem can be intermittent however should it return I would not be ignoring it. Why not have your mechanic listen to your video as the sound quality is pretty good.

starter or belt
 

did you ever fix it and figure out what the issue was? My Z is doing the same exact noise as yours in the video. I can't seem to figure if its a belt issue or starter.

belt squeak, starter grind.

That's a starter overrunning (getting stuck to flywheel not disengaging). Acura are notorious for it.

Never fixed it, noise went away after a week. Its been months since and no problems.
I'm not saying you shouldn't be concerned for yours, we might not have the same issue.
Hope you can get your problem resolved soon.

I am glad that it went away. Its just very weird how problems and odd sounds go away on their own. Keep enjoying the Z! :driving:

Another vote for slipping belt.

So... after 6 months, the noise decided to start again...
Ill probably get it checked out for sure this time... Keep yall updated.

Mechanics claim its just an over extended belt.
Will be getting car back tomorrow.
Hopefully that is it...

Downside is I'm being charged nearly $300 for repair...
$65 for belt, $125 for diagnostic fee??, $100 for labor...

Interesting! I was thinking it was the starter all this time too as my Z has been making that EXACT same sound for a couple weeks now but also only when a cold start (usually the morning.)

Has this happened since the repair a few months ago? Or is the belt the go-to resolution so I can hopefully forgo any misdiagnosis?

It was the belt, no problem since.

So about 6 months since repair, my car is starting to make this noise again on start up.
It is getting very cold here if that matters... maybe its just a coincidence.
I will wait a week and take it to mechanic if it persists.

Also, just in case... if they say its the idle pulley this time, if my new belt is damaged should a new one be covered under the standard one year parts/labor warranty? Can I argue that they neglected to properly check the idle pulley and therefore recreated the problem 6 months later? (because maybe the belt took about 6 months to stretch enough to make noise again?

I had the same noise as you. It turned out to be my starter. Had it replaced over a year ago and the noise is gone. Hope this helps.

The fact that it is intermittent makes me agree with other response of a loose, misaligned or damaged starter. Bad bearings in pulleys is possible but they usually make noise constantly and don't sound a whole lot better when warmed up but you never know. Mechanic worth his salt should be able to diagnose within an hour.

Reviving an old thread... inb4 forum warriors complain.

Did you ever find a solution to this?