Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Maintenance grinding noise on cold starts, anyone else?

On cold cold starts, a grinding noise comes from the engine bay, like an exhaust shield rattle or like if the starter solenoid didn't disengage fast enough. It just started recently. I thought it might be a weak battery but I cleaned the terminals and checked the water levels and they're fine. Haven't really got a good lead on where to start looking...

it doesn't affect driveability.. it's just a noise that wasn't there before.

Mine does the same thing only on cold startups. I posted a while back and everyone told me it was because the timing chains dont have oil for a second or two. Thats the reason for the rattle. I didnt investigate it further I just learned to live with it. But if anyone else has any ideas Id like to hear them.
-tropictour

I get the same thing. Wasn't there a "fix" with adding some washers somewhere becuase the chain is basiclaly grinding aginst the cover??

..MAybe that was a Zetec thing.. I dunno.

If its not the timing chaing rattle (light ticking/clacking) then its probably the starter bendix binding within the starter.

The fix is to replace the starter, at least the most efficient fix is so.

Damage to the flywheel can result, leading to flywheel replacement, if this is your problem.

All of this assumes that the car DOESN'T start when you try.. it grinds. Upon retrying it may start. If the car actually STARTS every time, just grinds (and it isn't the clacking timing components) then the shimming method CAN help, though I havcen't the foggiest how to explain it, nor where the post about that is.


Ray

check this thread out. i had the same problem up until 10 minutes ago.

http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=trouble&Number=1036367&Forum=trouble&Words=starter&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=2&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=1030584&Search=true#Post1036367