VS Grinding/Scratching Noise on Cold Start

[nathanVY]

Hi Guys,

Just the last week or so my car's been making some nasty sounds. Particularly on cold starts it will make a grinding noise, sounds like it's coming from around the flywheel-ish area.

It only dawned on me today that I was hearing similair but much less faint noises a few months ago, just a scratch or two on startup and then it went away. Now it seems it's gotten worse and progressively getting worse, sometimes it lasts for a few minutes and follows RPMs as you're driving. But does eventually go away.

The transmission was recently serviced, fluid wasn't the greatest colour but pretty good still. The guy that did it also removed a couple of springs to make a shift a bit harder. Really happy with the firmness of the shifts, but I don't know if it's related to this or not?

The transmission/diff also seems to thump on 2-3 shift or 3-2 downshift.

Ideas and thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[PirateJoe]

That's a hard question mate without hearing it. Is the starter dissengaging fully? First guess would be a cracked flexplate.
(flywheels are fitted to manuals)

 

[VK SL 3800]

Flex plate failure was really common on the early V6's, but not unheard of on the later ones, generally the noise wont go away though if its that.

 

[nathanVY]

That's a hard question mate without hearing it. Is the starter dissengaging fully? First guess would be a cracked flexplate.
(flywheels are fitted to manuals)

Flex plate failure was really common on the early V6's, but not unheard of on the later ones, generally the noise wont go away though if its that.

I'm not sure about the starter, how do I check that? Cracked flexplate is a possibility. It's had the auto out of it to do the rear seal and I remember the guy doing it thought the bolts (flexplate) were going to snap, but they didn't. He does good work so if it's a failure of that it's not really his fault I don't think.

But my thoughts are similar to yours VKSL 3800, If it was the flex plate why does it go away?

It may not go away entirely but it definitely lessens significantly. Starter motor sounds like a much better option



Thanks so much for the advice guys.


EDIT:

Since I've got the car, occasionally when cranking it will make a sound like something is spinning out, the cranks will speed up and gradually start the car.
Most times it starts fine though.

 

[nathanVY]

One more question too, if it is the flexplate will driving the car cause any major damage ?

 

[smoknvr:)]

try ur belt tensioner had tha same thing on cold start ups,when my mech put the new belt on the otherday it siezed up,second hand from a wreckers with new metal pulley,problem fixed

 

[nathanVY]

try ur belt tensioner had tha same thing on cold start ups,when my mech put the new belt on the otherday it siezed up,second hand from a wreckers with new metal pulley,problem fixed

hey that's an idea! all the idler pulleys have been replaced but not the belt tensioner, the pulleys were replaced because of nasty bearing noises too

Will take the engine belt of and have a listen! cheers!

 

[nathanVY]

Arghhh starter motor replaced. Starts amazing which is nice, but it still makes that awful grinding noise!!!!!! Whats going on
anyone know what this could be??

 

[nathanVY]

Could it be the harmonic balancer??

 

[Hangman]

Doubt it. It wouldn't go away either if it was the balancer. When they go it's usually the rubber in the middle that goes. Easy enough to check it anyway.