Okay, my car mysteriously obtained a rod knock sound after changing my starter. Nothing fell in as far as I know and even if so, the sound is way too loud to be a metal nut or washer tapping.

After a week or so of hell we thought... why would a starter cause knocking? we pulled all the crap again and we found this.



Few really nice marks on the pressure plate - the rest of it is pristine.

We have NO idea if this was caused by the new starter or the previous owner starting the car while it was already running. Theories?

The car isn't back together yet - probably not til Friday, but I would like to get a discussion on this or what else could have caused random rod knocking...

Thanks for the help, I just want to enjoy my car again

Matt S.

 

that looks too new to be from a rpevious owner starting it while running.

what kind of starter did you get as a replacement?
however, even the chipped teeth on the ring gear won't cause a knocking sound.
is it just more or does that bolt in the pic there look like i'ts been hitting something on one side? that would cause a knocking sound. are you sure it's in all the way and that it's the right length compared to all the otherones?

 

Same length as far as I can tell.

 

find the torque setting on the flywheel and re torque them, common problem. it gets off balance and makes a knocking noise. especially noticable on aftermarket flywheels

 

just like that? im not pulling the motor to see if I have to re torque it. its a stock flywheel.

 

Where did u get the new starter? and what brand? hah i dont wanna mess up engine! stupid bridge is still in the way =[

 

yay got the starter off!

 

did you drop a bolt inside the the starter hole and maybe it chipped some teeth? is there a access port on the bottom of the trans?

 

Wow what do you ****ing know!!!

The starter is crap! Im ordering one from Lexus, OEM baby. Car doesnt knock, it was the reman'd starter ****ing **** up!

 

that's what i was leaning towards when i asked what kind of starter you used! glad you found it.

 

thats why i only use OEM parts for things like that.

 

Yeah who knew lol. Never had a problem with reman'd starters... well except for the hardest car to work on haha.

BTW My local dealership wants $357 for the starter, Carson is $267, Just.. btw

 

glad you finally figured this out Matt! good thing you haven't bought a new motor yet!

 

dam an OEM starter almost cost as much as a different motor you were looking at... hah

but dam...

i was lookin at a bosch starter from kragen.. "2.2kW Nippondenso System "

hmm should i trust that.. hmmmm.. im scared =[

 

Bosche starter should be good, no? Ive pulled my motor apart 5 times so far. I wont mind spending an extra $100 to never do it again (hopefully).