I originally thought it was just my starter going bad, but a friend of mine suggested it could be the flywheel.... sometimes it makes that flat hissing sound when cranking for about 10 - 15 cranks or so.... I also try moving the car alittle and playing with the gears... eventually it "catches" then turns over.


Here is the file:

http://www.pbxinteractive.net/badstart.wav

I'm hoping its the starter not the flywheel... I dont really want to drop that tranny again till my clutch is worn.

Well, I thought that's what the noise fix for our starters was, as outlined in the faq's and on motorvate.ca, where the grease dries up yaddayaddayadda. Well, I regreased my starter, and fixed the problem - it hasn't done it since. If you haven't, I'd suggest doing that first.

edit: here's the write up. http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/516

Gotta be the starter... I seriously doubt that anything is wrong with your flywheel.

That starter sounds like it's dying a slow death.

I did the motorvate starter regrease about 2 years ago. Fixed mine, no probs since.

Sounds like a bad starter to me also...

Yup it sounds like the bendix drive is slipping and not engauging into the fly wheel. I would tell you to replace the starter before you damage the flywheel. The starter gear is softer than the fly wheel, So you'll damage the starter gear first but if you keep running it like that over time you will damage the fly wheel.

lol.


I should've known to check motorvates site first.. I'll try the re-grease, if that fails then replace the starter.

Thanks fellas.

funny things is i did the regreased now the starter sounds awesome but when its really cold i after i start it makes this clan-clan-clan-clan-clan noise and it goes away and sometimes it make it again, even when i rev it up... i'll try to take a soundclip tomorrow of it and post it.

sometimes issues that you think maybe your starter can be your flywheel, if you have some bent teeth or missing teeth on your flywheel it can cause the starter to drag and not turn over as promply as it normall would. Not to say this is your case specifically but if good info to know also.

This man speaks the truth. Happened to me, but as he mentioned it may not be your case. My teeths were bent causing my crank sensor not to read correctly and caused my car to have long hard starts.

Im having starting problems also. This sux!!!

This is what I was also thinking, but the last time I looked at the flywheel (about 3-4 months ago) all the teeth appeared fine - not that I was examining for failure - just replacing the steel insert (stillen flywheel) for a new clutch install.

edit: funny, ever since I made this post (well I had also knocked the starter several times with a hammer (not hard btw) it has been starting right up or doing it much much less.... I'll still try the re-grease/or just replace the starter if it happens again.

Mine was doing the same thing, it would sound like the starter was just free spinning. I talked with a volvo mechanic and he said check the starter, but if it's good then it's the flywheel. So I checked the starter and it was fine, a little dirty but good. SO I was planning on replacing the clutch and flywheel together anyway. I have since gotten both in, and the noise hasn't happened yet. So my experience says it's your flywheel, unfortunatley. Just my .02

This is true, I've heard this technique to work, tapping the starter with a metal object, will fire it right up. Also in desperate needs you can pop the clutch, push the car and get a good few (i'd say 5mph) on the car, put it in first and dump the clutch, she'll fire up, be ready to catch her after she starts.

Pop starting it gets rough after while though. Not too good for the car either I'd wager...

yea its not recommend to do it everyday but if needed in a hurry or emergency it will work, and no it isnt go for the car but it can take it once in a while.

Left my lights on one day at work, came out later, poped the clutch car fired right up was home in no time.

So what's the best way to check for a bad flywheel? I've checked a few times but only through the small window the starter gives you. My '96 is a b. to start (thus I bought a '99). I gave up on it. I have replaced the starter so many times that I know that is not it.

almost sounds like what happened on my moms pathfinder, ended up being a bad starter and the one way bearing on the starter was worn out, so it slipped. replace the starter.

If you are replacing the starter make sure you gen the one with 10 teeth ( newer heavy duty) don't get one with 8!

Started, mine does that whens it's cold. It's not throwing out as far as it should.

Even though it may not be it, definately try the starter first because it's a whole lot easier and a lot less expensive to replace.