5CHN3LL

Will not take this bet.

LordVicious

Still sounds like belt noise to me, but I can see Bendix drive gear not popping back as well. Good news for the OP either way.

MichaelG

I have a similar issue. Would love to know how this turned out. I am tempted to just replace the starter and see if the noise goes away. Mine also starts sluggish a few times and then die when I hit the gas. Restart and fine. Always after sitting more than 8 hours.

dmw996

Sounds identical to mine when mine does it. Thankfully, mine seems to have stopped doing this as of late. It's the starter.

Fast00

So it is the starter?

Is there an easy DIY fix?

It is harmless?

Is it indicative that the Clutch is worn out?

Paul Waterloo

My daughter's VW Jetta does exactly the same thing, it's the starter. I'm not touching it.

Fast00

It looks like one can fix this issue DIY.

https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...oval-done.html

Ahsai

Yes, if you DIY and don't mind the labor, you can remove the gears and lube them and that should fix the problem.
If you use a shop, then most likely replacing it with a new one $100+ (Bosh new) will be less risky since you never know if the lube will bring it back.
(starter is courtesy of sjg1138)

PelicanParts.com

This DIY should help.

-Luccia

Cefalu

My '99 randomly makes the exact same noise at startup. Did the OP ever fix his starter to confirm the noise was the starter?

CJWessing

Never figured it out, doesn't do it too often anymore so I just let it be. Will ask my mechanic about it next time I take it in.

grain

I have the same sound, and before this thread I had deducted it to being the starter gear slow to retract.

Macster

Earlier this year my Boxster was making a similar noise -- maybe not quite as severe maybe though I never listened to the noise from outside the car -- upon cold starts. Tech diagnosed it as a dragging overrun clutch. The noise could be exacerbated by a slow to disengage pinion gear too.

But the noise has gone away and I can't recall the last time I heard it. But it is a bit warmer now than it was earlier this year when the noise was present so I'm thinking it is a colder weather problem, though at some point the thing will degrade to where it makes the noise even in warmer weather.

Oh, and the tech said the starter can be "rebuilt" when the time comes vs. replaced.

DK570

My car makes the same noise intermittently. I'm tempted to replace the starter while I replace the SAI vacuum lines next week.

DK570

Any reason I should pay more for the Bosch starter, or is the Napa one fine?

When I replaced the alternator, I used the Bosch one since it had a clutch, and the Napa one didn't.