I want my car repaired but not sure what the problem of th e car is. lately when i start the car it just makes a grinding noise an

Car sometimes when i start it just makes a loud grinding sound but when i start it again it works it only happens once or twice every now and then so i dont know what isbcausing it. I went to a shop and they couldnt diagnose the problem because it was starting ok when i was there

My car has 167000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
If you have confirmed that there is a loud grinding noise on starter activation, that means one thing and one thing only: the starter motor is failing, likely due to an internal fault such as a bad starter drive gear, and will eventually stop working. Depending on the mode of failure, teeth on the flex plate that engage with the starter can get damaged. Even as the problem is only intermittent now, the wisest thing to do is schedule starter replacement.

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Causes include the starter not lining up correctly with the ring gear on the flywheel, missing or damaged gear teeth, or a faulty solenoid. Replacing the starter is most often the right solution. However, if there is damage to the ring gear on the flywheel, the ring gear will need to be replaced.
If You Hear a Grinding Noise During Startup

In this case, you may need to remove one or more shims from the starter, depending on your application. If your starter motor doesn`t use shims, the pinion gear may have too much wear, and you will need to replace the starter.

If you notice your car making a grinding sound when it accelerates, your issue is likely to do with your transmission, a problem with your differential, a bad wheel bearing, a damaged CV joint, or a worn engine/motor mount.
PROBLEMS STARTING YOUR CAR

This gear meshes with the flywheel`s teeth to make the engine turn over. If one or more of the flywheel`s teeth are damaged or broken, then the wheel can`t engage with the starter motor. You might need to try a few times to get your car to start, or it might not start at all.

When the starter is not properly aligned, when the starter gear extends out to engage with the flywheel, it may create too much contact with the flywheel. In either case, this is noticeable by a very loud grinding sound.
One of the symptoms of a bad starter is a clicking noise when you turn the key or push the start button. However, a starter can die without making any sound at all, or it may announce its impending death with whirring and grinding noise—so listen up!
Does a Bad Battery Affect Your Starter or Alternator? A bad battery won`t usually harm your starter or alternator, however, since both of those components get their voltage directly from the battery, if the battery is underperforming, both the alternator`s and starter`s performance will be affected as well.
Car starters can fail for several reasons, and age isn`t usually as critical a factor as overheating. Engine mechanical problems can overload the starter motor, leading to overheating. Oil leaks can cause overheating because the starter can`t cool off.
Yes. If the voltage is too low the starter motor won`t spin up fast enough (accelerate) quickly enough to throw the gear along the bendix. On newer cars it is more complicated, but it still seems likely.
Grinding

If the grinding noise comes when you shift, it`s likely due to a worn clutch. Grinding when you turn a corner could be due to a CV joint that needs to be replaced or another suspension issue. And if you notice a grinding noise when you brake, your brake pads may be completely worn down to the metal.

Most of the time, if you hear scraping and grinding, it can be attributed to one of two main issues: Worn-out brake linings. Worn-out wheel/hub bearings.
Does a Bad Battery Affect Your Starter or Alternator? A bad battery won`t usually harm your starter or alternator, however, since both of those components get their voltage directly from the battery, if the battery is underperforming, both the alternator`s and starter`s performance will be affected as well.
Remove the starter from the vehicle and energize it with jumper cables to determine if the starter drive is properly moving the pinion gear into the cranking position. If the starter engages and cranks the engine, then skips and spins freely, there are two likely causes: Misalignment of the replacement starter.
Typically, a new starter will make noise when it`s positioned too close to the ring gear on the flexplate or flywheel. Installing thin, steel shims between the block and starter is the method to eliminate the noise. Another problem that may cause starter noise is an out-of-round flexplate.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I want my car repaired but not sure what the problem of th e car is. lately when i start the car it just makes a grinding noise an
ANSWER : If you have confirmed that there is a loud grinding noise on starter activation, that means one thing and one thing only: the starter motor is failing, likely due to an internal fault such as a bad starter drive gear, and will eventually stop working. Depending on the mode of failure, teeth on the flex plate that engage with the starter can get damaged. Even as the problem is only intermittent now, the wisest thing to do is schedule starter replacement.

Read Full Q/A … : I want my car repaired but not sure what the problem of th e car is. lately when i start the car it just makes a grinding noise an

There is a grinding noise when I start my car.
ANSWER : Hello,
It sounds like you may have a faulty [starter solenoid](starter solenoid that could be hanging up on the flywheel which would produce a grinding noise as you start the car. If you hear a clicking sound when turning the key, it is likely that your starter solenoid may be faulty. The starter solenoid is located on the starter and has internal electrical contacts that transmit electricity to the starter. As electricity is supplied to the starter a small gear comes out and engages the flywheel to spin the engine over as you turn the key. When this fails, it may cause a clicking sound and will not allow the starter to engage the flywheel when you turn the key. In your case, this small gear that comes out to engage the flywheel may be not retracting as it should which would cause it to grind against the flywheel of the motor once it starts. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.

Read Full Q/A … : I want my car repaired but not sure what the problem of th e car is. lately when i start the car it just makes a grinding noise an

Car makes grinding noise – 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
ANSWER : Hey there, thanks for writing in. I would have a professional mechanic check out the constant velocity joints on your vehicle. One or more of them may be worn enough to cause the noises you describe. S/he can diagnose and replace any failed CV joints.

Read Full Q/A … : I want my car repaired but not sure what the problem of th e car is. lately when i start the car it just makes a grinding noise an

My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

Read Full Q/A … : I want my car repaired but not sure what the problem of th e car is. lately when i start the car it just makes a grinding noise an

My car want start and when it do it shut down and want start until 30 minute or so. Now it want do nothing
ANSWER : When a car turns and won’t start, it is called a "crank no start". When this occurs, the first thing you need to do is see what is missing. All internal combustion motors need spark, fuel, injector pulse and camshaft timing to run. If one of these is missing, you have a crank no start. Diagnose the car and see what is missing.

The GM 3.8l motor has been installed in Buicks, Pontiacs and Chevrolets for decades. Particularly during the 90’s and early 00’s, these motors have used an ignition module with three coils mounted to it. This module is prone to just this type of failure. When it gets too hot, it quits working. When it cools off, it starts again. It can also display intermittent no start conditions. This is a pattern failure on this particular motor. Before I would ever replace the module, I would check for spark and injector pulse. If it just lacks spark, I would check for a crank sensor signal and replace the ignition module.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, do a few tests first:

Check fuel pressure. If there is none, check the fuse and the relay.
Check for injector pulse with a noid light. If this is missing, I would suspect a crank sensor. It could be a bad Power Control Module (PCM). (PCM’s are very rare to fail. I have never changed a PCM on one of these cars.)
Check for spark with a spark tester. If it is lacking spark but has injector pulse, suspect the ignition module.

If all these are present, I would take a compression test of all the cylinders. If camshaft timing is off, several of the cylinders will have significantly lower compression. Also, camshaft timing won’t start sometimes then not others; it will either start and run bad or it won’t start at all. It may sound like it is trying to start, but it won’t start.

If all of this sounds to daunting, I recommend booking a car is not starting inspection with YourMechanic

Good luck!

Read Full Q/A … : I want my car repaired but not sure what the problem of th e car is. lately when i start the car it just makes a grinding noise an

I put the wrong key in my car and a few weeks later my car just shut down and it will not start I believe it’s the computer but…
ANSWER : Hi there. What had happened is the wrong key set the security to the vehicle. This is to prevent the vehicle from starting with the wrong keys. Try removing the battery cables (+) and (-) for 13 minutes. During that time, put the original key in the ignition and turn it on. Activate everything in the car even though there is no power. Then remove the key and hook up the battery cables. The computer should have reset and reset the security. If the security is still being tripped, then I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you

Read Full Q/A … : I want my car repaired but not sure what the problem of th e car is. lately when i start the car it just makes a grinding noise an

My car will be starting perfect and when the gas tank gets lower it will start having problems .
ANSWER : Based on the information you gave, it sounds like a possible fuel starvation issue, caused by a partially blocked, in-tank fuel filter or a crack in the fuel pump housing. The remedy would be to replace the fuel pump assembly and filter. The overheating may be caused by several things, including a stuck thermostat, faulty water pump, or even a cracked head gasket. I suggest having a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, inspect the relevant systems to pinpoint the cause of your vehicle’s hard starting issue and overheating problem.

Read Full Q/A … : I want my car repaired but not sure what the problem of th e car is. lately when i start the car it just makes a grinding noise an

My car won’t start and it makes a clicking noise.
ANSWER : Based on the information you provided, it sounds like you may need to replace your starter. Your brakes should feel better once you get the vehicle started, unless you have a brake issue. The brake booster will provide about three applications of the brakes with the vehicle turned off until it looses enough vacuum to make the pedal feel harder.

The ABS light indicates that the antilock brakes are not operational. If the light stays on once the vehicle is started and moving, then suspect a wheel speed sensor, as that is the most common ABS fault.

A certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, will be able to determine the exact cause of your starting issue and recommend the necessary repairs.

Read Full Q/A … : I want my car repaired but not sure what the problem of th e car is. lately when i start the car it just makes a grinding noise an

Eric smoalih

I am a certified master technician with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and I have been working as an auto mechanic for over 15 years. I am passionate about my work, and I take great pride in helping people keep their cars running smoothly.