My car makes a really horrible grinding noise when I try to start it up in the morning. This really only happens when the engine is completely cold and if it's my first attempt at starting the engine.

What used to happen before was that the engine would turn over and I'd hear a grinding noise, but it never lasted more than a second and it ALWAYS turned over on my first attempt.

I have no other problems with the car. I haven't changed the oil recently, but will probably do so in the next week if time permits.

what's going on??!

 

Sounds like a bad starter to me...

 

would the fact that this only happens when it's cold be consistant with a bad starter? I would assume that a bad starter would act like that no matter what the temperature.

 

sounds like the bendix is sticking try taking it off and re greasing it

 

to that.

Yes - the cold weather causes the grease/moisture in the starter to gel/solidify - providing less lubrication/allowing the bendix to stick...

 

i have the same problem....
what is the bendix???

 

re-greasing your starter will, solve the problem....if not your going to have to buy a new starter.

-moo