So I went out to Start my car this morning, in this Kansas 16 Degree Weather and it wouldn't turn over, but it made the most horrible noise i've ever heard the car make. It made the same noise the car will make if you try starting it while it's already started. And for you that I know are going to say this, "No The car wasn't started yet" lol anyways, so I tried starting it twice and the engine wouldn't turn over either time, just that horrible noise. So I sat there thinking to myself for a couple mins about what the hell that noise could be. Then I tried starting it one more time, and it started right up! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?
-
Welcome to the Contour Enthusiasts Group, the best resource for the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique.
You can register to join the community.
Wost Noise Ever!
- Thread starter SVTPHAT
- Start date
99SE
CEG'er
Sorry about your luck buddy! Been there done that and it cost me $700 3 years ago. I was told that the flywheels/flexplates where designed from a softer steel and the starter actually wore away teeth on the flywheel/flexplate and the starter has nothing to bite on. Trying over and over slowly bumps the wheel to move until that starter gets a good bite. The $700 was for the flexplate and labor involved for dropping the tranny and another $300 was involved for a new starter. It sucks. I let mine go on for about 6 months before replacing it. It go to a point where it wouldn't start until about the 15th time. My car is now inthe shop to replace that flexplate again. Its believed that it started cracking and its now rubbing something severly. Good luck on the fix. The noise I had is exactly how you described yours.
svttouruofl
CEG'er
Was the noise a clicking sound or more of a grinding sound?
CSVT1214
Addicted CEG'er
My car did that a little over a month ago. I went to start it one day during lunch at work and the starter was just spinning freely and not making contact with the flywheel. I thought the starter was shot but when I got the car home, I tried it again and it started up no problem. It has not done it once since then. :shrug:
I'm holding off on replacing my starter until the problem returns.
I'm holding off on replacing my starter until the problem returns.
Last edited:
99SE
CEG'er
For me it sounded exactly how he descibed it "Sounds like I tried to start the car when it was already started" Grinding noise. For me it definitely didn't sound like it was just the starter spinning freely. I wish I had taken pics of the bad flexplate I had. Man was it bad.
KyleQ
Hard-core CEG'er
The impeller shaft on the starter may have debris in it, or is just gummed up. It hapens as starters age, bad starters draw a lot more aperage then good ones, so there is an indication. Its a Ford starter though, so if your in a pinch, give it a bang or two to get on your way.
DNeinstadt
CEG'er
Kyle's got it right here. Tap it with a hammer after you remove the intake tube, it's either stuck OUT or stuck IN.
Dan
8000RPM
CEG'er
let me tell you. mine does the same thing, and only when its cold. always starts, but with the strat, the grinding noise comes for about a second at the most. doesn't do it when engine is hot or in the summer. the colder it is, the worse it sounds. my friend's svt does the same thing...i took my flywheel off about a month ago and was perfectly fine...so was the starter. hasn't caused any problems yet, so i ignore it...
8000RPM
CEG'er
you should have showed him the international sign "olo"? 
stealthy3L
CEG'er
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2006
- Messages
- 138
its the starter, my cougar has this problem especially when its cold. I might have to crank it 4 times to get the starter to turn the flywheel, so I just got a new one, problem fixed.