so this recently started happening, but not every time. out of the time driving it, it only happened 6 of maybe 12 times i had to start the car within the past 2 days. it's just a quick grinding/rattle noise as i'm starting the car which is an 2005. i searched through and saw that someone posted that there was a leak and a loose bracket by the alternator. i got under my car and saw a bracket under the alternator, but it was not loose. i tried to tighten the bolt anyway & it was tight. i did see what looked like a ground wire going to that bracket. and i noticed that the hold that holds the wire was loose. so i tightened it, and started the car about 4-5 times but not in a row. i did not hear any noise, so i thought i was in the clear.

then i get to this morning. i had to move some cars around so when i first started my car, i heard the noise, but not as bad. but when i got in to leave, it did not make the noise.

anyone have any other tips on what i could try to check which could cause this? the 1st time i heard it i thought starter, but since it's not consistent, i feel like it could be something else. i would hate to go through replacing the starter and find that it was not the problem.

 

I can say that on my Nissan I would get a grinding noise from the starter when it was about 12 years old. It was the starter-- basically the gear grinding against the flywheel because the plunger was sticky and not always retracting fast enough. Symptoms would be every 5th start, etc. Known issue on forum due to age people said hit it with a hammer (I didn't want to hit the solenoid) or just take it apart and lubricate it. At the time, I didn't know how easy the job was on the Nissan V6, and so I lived with it for another 3 years, until one day I was stranded.

Good chance your issue is the starter, because you say, "when starting."

Aftermarket parts are questionable and I had to do the Nissan starter 3X. The parts were free replacements, but it was my labor. On our LS430s I wouldn't be able to go through that (do the job 3X due to faulty brand new parts) due to what's involved with the starter job on our 3UZs.

Maybe just keep an eye on it is the best bet. Remember, with old cars, so many things are, "it could break tomorrow, it could break 5 years from now, or never. I'd just keep driving." Indies are used to dealing with old cars and often say something along those lines.