Noise When Starting 03' 996

Since the weather has gotten colder, I noticed that my 996 03' has been making a noise when starting when the engine is cold. I am down in Austin tx so it hasn't been like north US cold. It first started happening when I had it parked on a 60 degree incline and 32 degrees outside. It sounds like it is coming from the alternator or one of the belts around the alternator. Right when I start the engine, it sounds like something is hitting up against a belt similar to a rubbing noise more or less then the sound goes away after 2-3 seconds everytime. After the engine is warmed up, it doesn't happen anymore on startup. Anyone have similar experience or know what it could be?

And it is not a high pitched whining noise - when I did a search I noticed a lot of posts for those saw like high pitched noises - that's crazy! It is more of a deep belt rubbing noise just 2-3 seconds at start.

Sound clip?

how many miles? has belt been replaced?

As mentioned, a sound clip would be helpful. FWIW, you should year my car start up in the morning - all loud and metal-on-metal clangy for a couple seconds. It made my skin crawl for the first few months. -td

At 60 degrees I'd imagine even the motor mounts could be near rubbing their limits of play or the airbox is hitting or binding on something when it cools down the the vibration of starting gets it shaking out of the being stuck to whatever position it was in when hot. Can we see a picture of this 60 degree incline?

I think that I know exactly what you are hearing. Mine does it sometimes too. Cold night, first start of the morning. I think (hope) it sounds that maybe when the motor spins up and then down on start, the sprag clutch on the alternator is making noise. My theory is that the motor and accessories spin up together on start and then the alternator doesn't spin down quite as fast as the motor. Assuming that the alternator has a one-way clutch on the pulley (anyone confirm?) that is exactly what it sounds like to me. Kind of a buzz/whine/fine-ratchet sound, high to low (but not very low). Loud enough to get your attention, with the windows up no less. Haven't noticed it when I park it butt in, but it's been warmer too. As much as what goes on when this thing starts, I've about decided to ignore all the noises. This particular one though is such that it could be disturbing to some. an 03' 4S 6spd with 84k miles Brian

disconnect the power to the aux air pump. Then see if you get the noise on cold start. It lives by your left knee when you are standing looking at the engine scratching your head.

I'll try to get a sound clip, it's an 03 56k miles and belt never replaced.

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Andreas

Could be the IMS chain tensioner oil is bleeding down & chain is flapping around until sufficent oil flow pressurizes the tensioner enough to control the chain slack.

With our recent cold snap I had an opportunity to record a sound clip. Also decided that my alternator pulley theory was pretty far fetched. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=02El-EUWJBQ Is this the sound you have? Brian

^^^ that sounds like a sticky starter plunger. My .02.

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That is exactly what it is. Here is the same noise on my car...that is exactly the same noise I get. (By the way, I stop and restart my car so you can hear the sound a cpl times) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZXvdP4TCC4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=decfd5zCIDc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9cgnP5ilq8 Anybody have any idea what this noise could be?

After hearing your soundclip I withdraw my previous guess. No new guesses but it sounds distinctive enough that a mechanic with experience with this issue should recognize it right away.

starter. for sure. it doesn't retract as fast as it should do...

Although it does sound like a slow to retract starter solenoid I get the same sound about one out of 30-50 starts. Being lazy I haen't changes the cheap belt but when I discussed the noise with the dealership main brains with the car I was told its a pulley bearing for the belt probably. I'm not certain if the starter for the car operates with a solenoid or clutch like bikes like to use to same weight and not use solenoids that fail. Good news is the belt and pulleys are cheap. Bad news is some of us are still lazy since it isn't that often the noise occurs. PS if it were a sticking solenoid the noise wont get away during a start with rev since the gear would be captured by the force of the engine against the gear. If its a pulley the bearing just snaps out of it from spinning. I believe the dealer knew it right away.

Crazy thing is I was able to reproduce the noise every time I would start it for the first time for that day and then today I started it up and no noise. I hadn't driven it for a couple of days either. Crazy thing is it's as cold if not colder than days that it was making noise. Mine just started happening recently, never had this noise before. Yeah doesn't seem like a big deal but will still get it checked out.

I'm in Austin. It is your starter going bad. The plunger that disconnects from your flywheel isn't pulling back far enough. I probably have a used starter at the shop or you can get a new one -- probably 2-3 hours of labor to replace. I work with a partner who has a shop working on 996 and Boxsters in Austin. [email removed] , www.lonestarrpm.com Danny the owner charges $60/hr. Just did it on a 99 C2 I have. Mike

Dealer here in Hawaii and guys in the PCA say its the pulleys that commonly make that noise when getting worn. Easy fix. Yah it sounds like a starter solenoid whine which I also though at first. Funny thing is self cheap fix for pulley or pulleys and belt or let the dealer that might be after money have a go. I'd imagine if the dealer doesn't mention how the pulleys do that same noise like I have then they are highly suspect of being after your money instead of being informative. Easy check is pull airbox. belt and wiggle pulleys a little. If any move a tiny bit its the pulleys.

I know for sure it is the starter -- just did it a week ago. Made the exact same sound. Pulled the old starter out -- put it on the bench -- jumped the terminals -- and it wailed like a banshee. Also saw that the plunger would not pull back very quickly. Tested one I had at the shop -- no noise. put it in the 996 -- quiet as a mouse. Mike

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Which sound are you referring to? The high pitched whining or the low pitch buzz saw type noise? The low pitched one is what I am wondering about.

The one that sounds like Wherrrtzzzzaza -- almost like whirling low-mid frequency range screech last for only a couple seconds. worse when cold. to me the dominating sound in all three videos. Like I said -- we replaced it on my 99 C2 that I have for sale last Thursday night I think at the shop. mike If you'd like -- come out to the shop -- we'll bench test the one we pulled -- and if it sounds the same you'll have more confidence it is what you are hearing.