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.

[nathanVY]

how do I check that?

Need help guys!

[som]

i really feel sorry for you mate.could it be a water pump?someone smarter than me may have the answer.post the thread everywhere.i have a vt and i love driving it but i have never owned a car that gives me so many headaches.there always seems to be a noise or vibration that i'm trying to identify.my mechanic reckons i'm paranoid and that it's the best commodore he's ever worked on but ive spent thousands of dollars on the thing and one thing's for sure my next commodore will have a ford badge on it.

[nathanVY]

it doesn't really sound like it's coming from the waterpump, more from the back of the engine

[HamaTime™]

I'm going to go with a flywheel/flexplate issue Nath.

[nathanVY]

Wouldn't that be a constant noise though?

Possibly a cat maybe

[TY318]

hmm that almost sounds very much like what mine did i sent my car to the mechanics awile ago and i replaced the motor the old one with the noises had bent push rods and when i started that up it sounded like crap but it eventually went away and then came back and so on

[nathanVY]

maybe i'll put thicker oil in it see if that dampens the noise at all. should at least give an indication as to whether it's internal or not


bloody things barely even cracked 200,000kms surely the engine is alright

[nathanVY]

bump! really need help!!!!!

[Jarryd F]

does it make a slight grinding noise when taking off when its cold, or if you take off slowly with some load on it, ie up a hill? My vr used to do it, it would make a slight grinding/rubbing sound. I ended up changing the flexplate and all the bolts and the noise has gone away.

[nathanVY]

makes the noise when start cold, and then follows engine rpm so if you take of it goes up with engine rpm.

thinking it could possibly be the starter drive sprocket! anyone have any info on this?

[The1]

you really need to try and pinpoint the location, otherwise your just digging your wallet.

[nathanVY]

from what I could tell its rear main seal meets the gearbox type area.

but who knows maybe a cats buggered and it's resonating everywhere.

edit: should I run thicker oil and see if there's any difference? 15W60 since I've had it... Every mechanic I talk to swears 15 is fine.

[The1]

grab a bottle of 15w 50 Mobil1 , could be a lifter noise also, see the oils thread i posted a heap of data in there.

[nathanVY]

It's got penrite in it atm... surely there wouldn't be a drastic difference between the two?

[dmo89]

I had this issue with my VS exc for ages,

i dont have the noise any anymore, i did a major service, replaced the water pump, crank angel sensor, machined the brakes, new brake pads and did a trans service n i got no noise. Ive tested the car to find it again but its not there.