squeal on engine start....

just reading roadrunner996's post made me think about my long running problem. last time it happened it was like this... get the car out of the garage for the 20 minute drive to work. car started perfectly. revs very slighly wobbly at idle but hardly noticeable. imagine this is normal - i hope, or i have more problems! park up and stop the engine - then i see a better parking space. sounds crazy but my work car park does have good and bad spaces and this was a prime one with nobody able to park either side - ideal for no nasty surprises when i get back to the car 4 days later!! so in the process of this the engine is off for a minute or less i guess. i go to restart it and as i turn the key i get a screech/squeal from the rear end. it's pretty startling !!! at this point i'm not sure if i get scared and stop turning the starter with the key or whether the engine just doesn't start. so either way i have to turn over again which is always ok but very slow to fire and has a slow, rumbly feel to it before it picks up. then everything is spot on again. i always try and avoid starting then stopping then starting like this cos the noise scares the bejesus out of me! it's happened maybe a dozen times in the 18 months i've had my porker. anyone shed any light? would love to get to the bottom of this!! only thing of note is maybe the voltage is nearly always nearer 12.5-13V. if i turn all electrical demand i can off it still only peaks under 13.5V. don't seem to get the 13.8 i've seen quoted on here. is this an issue? everything else about the car is amazing and i'm one happy 996 owner when i'm driving! i'll be sure to mention it to northway when i get my service in january. i can't speak highly enough of those guys from previous experience. thanks in advance :thumbs:

Possible sticking starter solenoid/bendix gear. Might be an idea to remove starter clean solenoid and bendix screw, re grease and refit starter motor

1. squeal sound could well be a slipping belt: belts need check and re-tension probably. 2. ISV may need a clean: idle stabilisation valve: gets coked up, should help wandering idle and startup/running 3. don't believe the slightly lower voltage would be a problem; have you checked it with a voltmeter?

cheers for the ideas. i'll get onto them! one thing to add is it's always really sluggish on a second start within a few minutes off turning engine off, even when it doesn't make the screeching noise. is that common - seems a bit strange?! regarding the voltage presumably anything above 12v means it's charging the battery so i guess nothing to worry about there. earl :thumbs:

I think anything above 12.5V is ok. That was what mine used to read until the indy pointed out it was slightly low, although ok. After the alternator was refurbished, it read 14V rock steady.

Heres my 10p worth: Sounds more like an overheated starter motor, fine when cold but squeaky when hot I am finding this fairly common on dual mass type clutches due to dust (is your car a tip or 6sp?). The issue is do you gamble trying to salvage the starter with grease or just bite the bullt and get a new one? The reason I say this is it ain't an easy job to do, doing it more than once could be sole destroying. To diagnose get it under some experienced ears and ask for their opinion. The idle on a 996 is very low, I don't see any issue there at all. The volt meter is only a rough guide, I would not worry about it.

hi lloyd it's a year 2000 C4 manual. interesting what you say - problem is getting it to make the noise when i take it to my indy. think changing/playing with the starter might be beyond me sadly (time, tool and knowledge wise!!) - anyone know what kind of money are we talking about if i get a new starter fitted at an indy? cheers!