Noise session starts at 1:52

Finally a damn vid that shows the noise I’ve been looking for. So it is my starter . THX

A school that produces quality instructional material for free. You guys deserve far more views and likes than you're getting. Thank you!!

Sir Tracy Hind, thank you! I have a boat with Mercruiser 3.0 engine and I've been hearing the exact same "zing" and I was 99% sure the teeth in the fly wheel is the problem. I observed some of the sides of my flywheel having grinding marks just like yours. My heart sank and I thought some teeth cracked off and went missing. BUT... after hearing what you had to say, quote, "....what we need is a new flywheel. That is almost never the case. I mean that It's exceptionally rare but you hear that all the time, all teeth missing off the fly wheel. No, its a bad starter. I would say 9 times out of 10, if you get that little zing before you start the engine, its a bad starter". Another quote, "You can see the teeth on the starter pinion are obviously softer metal than the teeth on the flywheel and that's on purpose". - THESE words of yours has given me some confidence. I'm taking a leap of faith and changing the starter :) Will share with you and your audience the result. FYI - I've NEVER done any thing on a car or boat, except light wiring. So IF I SUCCEED, then anyone can :). THANK YOU SIR!

In other cases, when you turn the key to start the vehicle , you will here a "click" noise and nothing more, with the dashboard light flickering, or simply no clicking noise or lights at all. Before assuming it's the starter, check battery connections and terminals for corrosion. Check ground cable and follow it to chassis and make sure no corrosion or dirt and grime have accumulated on both ends of negative cable. Then do the same with the positive and follow it till you get to starter selonoid. But be very carefully not to bridge with a metal to ground as you could fry your computer or alternator creating a short. Once you have determine connections are clean, check battery voltage and if it's 12.4V, it's static voltage it's OK. After cleaning battery, start vehicle if you year same click or nothing happens either the starter is bad or the engine is locked up. If you hear a "Click" or "tack" noise hit the starter with a brass hammer, this will restablished connection inside and sometimes it works. while tapping starter have someone turn key. If car turns over and starts then you need to change starter. However, if you have determined it's not the starter, and you still here a "click" when turning ignition key, your engine most likely is locked up. Remove lug nuts, Jack up vehicle and remove wheel that faces the timing belt side. Take a cheater bar and with the right socket size and extension turn crankshaft the correct way it spins .. If it does not spin at all, you got big problems...your engine is locked up, probably is broken inside. Either you threw a rod and pieces of metal are stuck inside. If that is your case, I'm sorry for that..

watching in 2017 and I'm glad I found this video, getting nothing but the zing sound ready to pull that starter out and chunk it away. 👍

Finally someone who knows what they are talking about awesome video man

5:49 - I knew it! This is one of the best (if not THE best - 1.2M Views says it all) starter videos on KZfaq hands down! Great understanding and explanation and video footage. Thank you! _(I've got a Honda Civic and I replaced the starter a little over a year ago. The starter was grinding at cold startup every now and then before the civic would start. I took it apart and cleaned the inside and put it back together and it ran perfect for about 3 months before it started doing it again. I believe the pinion shaft needs lube because I'm assuming the gear is sticking on the shaft just like in this video. I always suspected that the "teeth" on the main wheel couldn't possibly go bad because of the size and thickness and now this video has confirmed my suspicions about that.)_ Much appreciated. *Liked & Subscribed!*

This video helped me find the issue. This was the same sound. So I pulled my starter and there was wear on pinion and it was freely moving in and out. Thank you.

Thank you so much, this helped me diagnose my car's issue. I'd been hearing the exact sound made after turning the key when the starter doesn't disengage properly for a few seconds, but no other video really played that sound or at least not clearly. I'm going to go ahead and get a new starter as soon as possible and have a crack at replacing it myself. Thanks guys!

Thank you. I was told by a mechanic( with out testing or hearing the noise) my truck might have bad fly wheel but most people who hear me start it said starter. It make a horrible screech sometimes before it starts. Thanks. I'm going to look into replacing the starter. Because I was told by the mechanic flywheel replacement was expensive. He might have been trying to rip me off.

Nice explanation of the problem and showing how the starter was stuck out with the damage it did. Probably happens with starters. Thank you.

Awesome video and great explanation. I like the fact you showed the teeth on both I’m going to assess my flywheel tomorrow because I had my starter rebuilt and it went bad again after one week

Oh my god. THANK you. That is EXACTLY the noises my car was making. I was terrified I'd done a timing belt. But that's the noise. My mechanic is putting in a new starter tomorrow and he's hoping that the starter is the problem. I'd say so. :) This makes me happier than a timing belt on a VW beetle.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! This was THE video that totally diagnosed my 2008 Grand Caravan!! Cheers!!

Mines been making similar noises with the added frustration of not starting on first few attempts….had a feeling the starter was failing, this has just confirmed it. Thank you for uploading an easy to understand & follow tutorial 👍🏻👍🏻

This confirms for me what I already thought on my old bmw. Bad starter. It has had trouble starting, same zing. Will occasionally fail to start with high pitched whining, then after a few more tries, will fire right up. Thanks for the vid.

I have the same problem and same grinding but it won't roll over. I'm going to buy a new starter today and see from there. I'm no mechanic but I do know how to work on honda since I just did my honda timing belt because a mechanic told me that it's not the starter. He also said to remove belt cover and damper and check the the key did not brake. I removed everything and did my timing and that key was in perfect shape. Great video and thanks for sharing. This job I did save me a shit load of money and the time wasted for nothing well it was worth it. Again thank you for your video

Thank you that last startup is pretty much what my Cadillac is sounding like I was worried it was a transmission issue but I guess I'll look into my starter

Best video I’ve seen with the exact problem I’m having with my 06 altima

My sound isn't quite the same. It just started doing it last week. A bit of a quick grind sound when I start up. Thinking the drive pinion isn't getting the heck out of the way fast enough anymore. The sound is like what you get when you don't release the key after starting. It's a 1997 Astro, so it I see a new starter in the near future. And yes, I'll be doing it myself.

Thank you for this video. This is the same sound I hear on my scooter. Now I know that the bendix drive is not retracting properly.

This is the exact the noise I hear from my starter.An yes, the flywheel teeth are harder metal than the starter pinion teeth.

I got this same deal with my 96 ford ranger, havent gotten the cash for the starter yet, but I like to do things myself but couldn't remember what the heck it was and this is dead nuts on the money. Great video, extremely helpful.

I would have loved to see and hear the difference after the starter was fixed.

Brooo this is actually the problem of my Chevrolet optra. Thank youuuu!!!!

I am glad you recorded the sound, great idea. Since most people describe sounds to their trouble. It was fairly easy to tell by the sound what was wrong with that one, the squeal or spinning like sound was the starter was staying engaged and would need a new one. Although mine is not doing this exactly it makes more of a thunk sound as it starts. Maybe 2 or 3 times before it stops when the motor starts. Makes me think the starter is either loose or not totally engaged, but does release. The sound gives me a sense that it is knocking while something is moving. Has anyone hear this sound and know that it could be? 92' vehicle, starts and runs great, drives like new. Thought I would ask here before I can get it checked out, so I can have some idea of what it may be. Not driving it often. Just started the last few times I've started it. Haven't have the vehicle about a week, maybe started a dozen or two times before. I don't know for sure if it had been worked on it, has had many new parts replaced before I got it. Even though the man said I could call, I really don't want to bother the man, since I bought it "as is".

Thanks for posting this video. Very informative on what a bad starter can look like.

Aaahhh i screamed when you said fly wheel because both make similar noises to me, my neighbours corsa is doing this and she cant start her car up in the cold right now told her to get it Checked/replaced

Figure it was the starter, not a pulley you're the Man

Thank you so much!! I am having trouble with my Toyota right now. I was looking online and this was the only video that could give me the sound. Do you do videos for diagnosing other repair problems i.e. alternator, drive shaft... just thinking about the future :)

Got an 07 Saturn Vue that makes the same sound occasionally when i turn the key. Thanks for the info

What a great honest video, im going to go ahead and chamge the started on my volvo xc60 d4

Happened on my S10. But as to where your pinion wasn't retracting and coming out correctly, mine was completly loose. It had so much play in it it was hitting against my flywheel and making a popping-like sound as the truck ran and mostly on acceleration. Glad I got it fixed and it didn't damage my flywheel.

I just bought a used F150 2001 and this happen to me immediately the next day. I changed the starter, the gear teeth on it was shiny silver indicating grind. I look inside the hole where my flywheel is (flexplate actually since I have an automatic transmission, Flywheels are in manual transmissions you guys) and the flexplate also is way more silver shiny than yours. I hope its not to the point where it damages all of my starters because its worn as bad. I will update in the future when someone replies to this comment. I changed the starter and alternator on 1/31/2022. Got the truck on 1/24/2022. Starter and alternator from amazon, $93.40 alternator (DB electrical ADR0035 135amp) , $69.25 starter (db electrical 410-14043)

that is exactly what I hear on my 2008 Toyota Matrix. Time for a new starter.

Great video. Than you for explaining the missing teeth on the fly wheel issue.

Thanks, brother. My car just started doing that zing sound last night. You've saved me a lot of time diagnosing the starter. I'll change it out next payday.

Thanks for the video I was looking for an answer and you are the only one to provide it!

Great video, your diagnosis was correct. A tooth missing off the flywheel makes a clunking noise.

THANK YOU!!!! i've had trouble with electric start on my scooter since i've bought it (i essentially only used kick start). i've opened up the bendix (thats the equivalent of the starter) but since i was just a pleb i couldnt diagnost anything than teeth being a BIT worn and otherwise it going well. And i had a whole odyssey trying to find the solution; changed the electric start motor, loked into electric circuit, etc. And mechanic doesnt know what it is LOL. 9.9 ok so it'll be just like with air leak; take stuff in my own hands and get it done. OK.

Yup this is what is wrong with my truck...thanks for the video!

This is exactly what the issue was when I changed the transmission in my 96 geo prizm, the starter would engage fine but then not be retracted enough to clear the flywheel, causing the tips of the starter gears to grind down. One washer on each bolt was just enough to clear, no more grinding!

We call it a "glitch". A teeth grinding clenching glitch.

...I troubleshooted this issue with my 95 F150 this morning. Realized that I had ignition relay “I” on the wrong terminal. Solved the issue of stuck pinion aft starting.

Excellent video. Very thorough. Thanks for taking the time!

Two minutes of "Let's listen to the noise. the noise makes this sound. Let's listen to the noise.. now remember it makes this sound so we're going to crank it and listen for the noise that it makes which again sounds like this, so we're going to crank it up and..." Juuuussstt doooooo iiiiiitttt

Thank you very much for the good video.

My Chevy 350s starter would make a loud bang as you tried to start it, and all engine mode would cease, turned out the original owner messed with the timing and didn't know what they were doing, broke the starters gear/cog in half, didn't harm the flywheel at all surprisingly. Reason for messing with timing after I bought it to restore the 86 c10 "I wanted it to have a higher rev." I'm like the fuck?! Either way new starter appropriately timed now it sounds like a fucking beast! 350 Goodwrench V8 Holley 3310 750!

Thank you for being so smooth talking and knowledgable. I decided to walk away and regroup. KZfaq’d Starter Whining and found your video. Your calm voice literally made me further go into thinking logical and not over stressing. I was like relax, take a breath, its okay, diagnose and be logical, its something silly and its gonna be all great. You’ll be driving and enjoy your the hard work and money you put into your build. Ive been building my car, invested a lot of money into it and doing everything myself and its taken a little longer then expected to get things finalized with some random hiccups. Guess I was just a little overwhelmed considering other things happening in my life ATM and in the world. Rona, family, anxiety, government, business, etc. anyway, I love you man, God bless you, thanks again.

We are lucky manufacturers designed the starter pinion with a softer metal than the flywheel teeth. Easier to replace a starter than it is to remove engine just to replace the flywheel. Cheaper too

excelent video , this really help me to fix my neon 1995

every bad mechanic : "fly wheel missing teeth. run you another 300 big ones, i'm afraid." reality: pinion.

Thanks for this very helpful video!

Fantastic. From a collage teacher, you should teach!

Great video guys thank you replay helped me understand what I was hearing.

on my Chevy i used 3 half shims on the side of starter that is closest to the fly wheel and the screeching sound went away. When I put starter on with no shims it made this sound. and when I put 3 whole shims in started loudly and it Idled quietly. Get a new starter there is a science to starter ( THAT I AM NOT THAT KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT ), the bendex and fly wheel flex plate need to be spaced correctly.

Shut up and start it so we can hear it!!!!!!!!!!!

I had the zing before starting issue, so had a new starter installed yesterday. At one point after taking it home I went to start it and the zing happened again. Could it then indeed be the flywheel you think? I know you said it was rare, but... Thanks for the video!!!

My truck was making that first sound like starting when it's already running. I replaced the started and it still did it. It was because the old starter was loose and grind down the flywheel

I had same exact sound on my Impala. I replaced engine started car without belt and it started up and ran fine. Put belt on car and started it and got this sound. I found out that the wire from the wiring harness, alternator was shorting causing starter to be energized after engine was running. Repositioning cables corrected noise instantly.

Great video, thank you hope to see more useful videos from you.

Very precious info in that video, cheers mate !

Thanks for the great video! You solved my problem!

My noise was at 1:57 . Took a while but thanks guys!

thank you for this video. i've been trying to keep my dying starter going . tonight it made this sound . i though it was engine bearing or something

Had same problem with 1999 prism but did that once every couple weeks and at time it also didn’t want to turn over only on cold engine start

Great demonstration.. Good work my friend.

My Tahoe has been making that zinging noise. It takes several tries to get it to start. Previous owner took it to a starter repair place & we just did well & it stated again! Im lost on what to tell em

great bro it help me alot with my f 100 72 thanks friend.

Great tutorial! Thanks a lot

My 07 duramax does the same thing every now and then it will make that noise then I’ll start it again and it starts right up no problems no weird noises

This guys is right and whoever disagree must be a quick lube mechanic ...

Great video! Thanks!

My car was driving fine but with a loud sound! The mechanic said it was the “starter motor defective pinion gear” but car was driving I never has a problem starting it or sound increase on acceleration or de acceleration. You think the diagnosis was correct? Just a loud grinding sound with no engine light on dash!

The problem is the starter not engaging and disengaging properly from the flex plate.

Actually on 1987 Camry the starter messes up the flexplate; Toyota made updated starter and flexplate to correct this issue

Thanks for this video. You saved my wallet.

My car had about three times where it wouldn't start, back in January/February. Didn't happen again though after that. Now, it makes a funny noise when it cranks, almost like this starter noise, but it isn't such a variable noise. It is only when it cranks. Someone from work heard it make that noise and said the starter was starting to go a few months back. The start sound is metallic, and if you have ever scratched your fingernails on a shiny fabric, this is the sort of brief metallic sound I hear. It is a... Cylindrical sound I guess, like a whine, or like I said, a swishy fingers-scratching-shiny-satin noise. That is the starter right?

That's sort of the sound mine makes, but it was doing it both with the old and new starters. The garage where I had the new one installed said it's not a bad starter but he won't take it in and check it. It only makes the sound in park and neutral and it's random. I also replaced the battery somewhere else. I didn't get any type of warranty for the starter either. I don't know what to do. I guess it's the old "dumb broad" syndrome.

ok like 2ft of snow was trying to avoid changing or checking engine , removing belt turning pulley / but was thinking it might be possible being starter never gave problem, thanks will do load test cranking starter

root cause: valve cover gasket oil leak? i.e. gunked up pinion can't move in/out quickly?

I bought a brand new starter and it also made this sound, what is the proplem

Had this noise after a bad started was replaced. Taking it back today because obviously they installed a bad starter or didnt do something right.

I'd lay odds if the gear is taken off the dust cleaned up and the shaft lubed with the gear it will loosen up and work just fine. But we live in a time where parts are thrown out and replaced instead of fixed.

Well done... great explanation!!!!

Thanks! That was very helpful.

New flywheel and starter and still makes like this over crank noise

You should have replaced the flywheel as well, the teeth on the fly wheel is worn as well.. just cause 5 teeth look ok But What does the rest of the teeth look like on the flywheel.. some could be in bad shape so just replacing starter over time the new starter is going to look like the one you just pulled off... it won't fix the problem until you replace fly wheel and starter.. I'm having to replace the flywheel on a 99 suburban because shops failed to do so... the truck has had 4 new starters put on. And each time the starter gear has worn why? Because the teeth on the fly wheel is rounded off and some are chipped which will cause problems with the new starter.. and that is why the teeth on the starter rounds off because it cannot get a solid bite on the flywheel... why fix part of the problem when you can fix the entire problem and have the issue completely solved.. yea you can stick a new starter in and it may be fine, but after a while that starter is not going to last.. there's a reason why the starter is slipping off the flywheel.. don't assume 5 teeth look good on the fly wheels cause there may be 40 others that are highly rounded or chipped up...

1:56 the start of noises

chevys 4.3 and 5.7 do it all the time, its due to the firing order for some, they like to stop in one spot all the time and the ring gear teeth go flat, or the crank area of the flex plate cracks, but im talking only about some cars

Really helpful thanks!

Good explanation.

Skip to 1:57 so u can hear the noise

apply some light oil on the gear, just as a test to see if it changes.

GM is notorious for this problem and one reason they include shims with new starters as people don't put them back in!

Thanks for the video... My truck start making that noise everytime I turn the key

Hmm. Sort of sounds like mine (1999 Toyota altezza as200/ Lexus is200 - 1gfe engine).

My teeth on flywheel are good. Still zhinnging? I’m puzzled.3rd starter 2005 grand caravan 3.3 .did timing that’s all set.. when I went to start zhinggg..

Oh and before the starter cracked I was getting a click and I took the starter off and took it in to have it tested then I put the starter back on and that's when the click stoped and started making the weird squealing and grinding noise that's when I got under it and was having someone turn it over so I could see where it was coming from and I noticed the crack and I couldn't really tell but it seemed as the noise was coming from the torque converter or flywheel or I guess it could of been the starter not sure all I know is it was coming from the bottom of the engine