FRist of all i have a 1995 sc400 with 125,456 miles on it. I have had my tranny flushed already but sometime in the morings when it is cool i hear this grinding noise. I thought at frist that it was just doing it that one time. But, lately i have heared it a lot im scared to take it to the shop dont wamt them to charge me a arm and a leg for the work. But has anyone else had this problem.


and as alwys thanks for the help!!!!!

 

ok... I'll give it a shot. Let me start off by stating that I'm not particularily mechanically inclined (yet) but I have a few ideas... It also happened to my last car but I never fixed the problem (ie. the simplest steps didn't seem to help).

Grinding normally occurs because the teeth of the starter and flywheel fail to engage causing the gears to grind against one another. This could be a mechanical problem or something marginal in the electrical system.

Turning the key completes an electrical circuit between the battery and the starter motor. This circuit requires clean electrical connections between the starter motor, both battery cables, and the engine. For example, it could be that the starter solenoid is not getting enough power to solidly place the bendix gear in mesh with the ring gear of the flywheel. In that case, cleaning up the circuit supporting the solenoid will help. Another possibility is that there is a problem with the ground strap, making the circuit sluggish. In that case, you could replace the ground strap or at least improve the connection (supplemental wiring).

Start with cleaning all the connections that make up the circuit. You might also have a load test done on your battery (free at places like Auto Zone) to simulate how well you battery is working when you try to start your car.

Other things...

Starter drive gear is damaged/broken - replace starter. Check the starter bolts to make sure they're not loose first. Starter and flywheen need to be aligned properly. I've heard stories of people replacing the starter with no improvement whatsoever. It ended up being something simple and cheap.

If you've damaged/broken the ring gear on the flywheel you might need to replace it - big $$$.

I'm sure I'm missing stuff and I'm not sure exactly the role of cold weather. Don't ignore the problem though. If it gets too bad and you have to replace the starter and flywheel, you're looking at big $$$. My solution to the problem was to sell the car while it was warm out and not giving me any problems.... I had planned to sell it anyway and didn't want to put a lot of money into it. Purchaser was informed of the problem.

Start simple and work your way up to figure it out.

Good luck,
Jon

 

Lilnard, i've been having the same problem, and i actually came onto CL today to search for info about this. i'm 16 and since i gotta pay for everything on my car, I wanna avoid as much unnecessary shop time as possible, because we all know time equals money, and trust me, i don't have very much right now. So if anyone else has experienced this problem, let us know. Thanks for all the help.

James

 

thanks ijbnm
Im takein it to the shop this weekend. i have been meaning to take it but i have been meaning to take it but i scared i cant pay for it. I was takeing to a guy who has a lexus he said that he had the same problem with his but, he said that the people at some shop told him lexus trannys just do that. (yeah right) i was like i dont thing a car`s tranny is going to grind at a red light and said that lexus tranny just do that.

james(jet864)
wassup i was 16 when i got my lexxy too everone was in school hatein on me. but, i was lovein it now that im 17i lonely had mine for a yearbut i love every min of it and still am. lol i love my sexxy lexxy even dought i cant afforde it lol

 

Can you describe the grinding noise better? Is it a harsh loud grinding or more of a soft wheezing sound? Can you feel it grinding or just hear it? Does it go away after the car warms up, or is it constantly there? You mentioned it was grinding at idle on a red light.. That doesn't sound too good on the surface, but I could be wrong. Either way, good luck!

 

Oops, I was assuming it was grinding only on starting the car....

Jon

 

Ok, for me, the grinding can happen at anytime, and i have tried and tried and i can't find any one specific time when its grinding. it happens in reverse, idle, slow speeds, and probably at higher speeds, but i can't usually hear it then because its on the outside and doesnt get into the cabin through the firewall or other passages. Its strictly audible. I can't feel anything, and its almost like somethings rubbing. It had to be some type of metal to metal contact, but sounds like its spinning because since it can grind at a stop its not anything rubbing on the ground or anything. i figured its gotta be something under the hood or somewhere along the drivetrain. I just got my belt replaced and that wasn't it (i was due anyways). Hope this helps.

Oh, and lilnard, people hate when you got a nice car. i just got a 3 foot keying from the gas cap to the back of the passenger door.

James

 

Yeah at frist it was when i started the car when it was cold. but, now that it is almost summer it is still doin it. like when i come to a light and the radio is down i can hear it i cant really feel it like jet864 said it sounds like metal to metal contact. it is not that loud a little more of a quite sound. but is sounds like it is comein from the mid section of the car. i hope that can help you help me lol.

yeah james i had my tires cut before but, i think that was a ex lol but other that that I have had spoiled azz hole wrote across my hood u can see that metal in some spots. But, to **** them off i got rims the next day, then the next week i got my cut fixed.

 

Please, if anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated. i don't wanna have to send my car in for hours to find out they don't know what's up. If anybody knows anything, let us know.

James

 

Does the sound increase and decrease with RPM? Have you checked your heat shields for looseness?

 

no it is round idleing when it does it. Where is the sheild.

 

lilnard85,
Could be your ABS pump. Does it sound like it's coming from the passeger side firewall? How long since your last ABS flush? Does the grinding stop after a few seconds???

 

Where in Florida are you at? The heat shields are next to your cats.

 

I`m in jacksonville, how about u.

 

I'm in Orlando.