Grinding Sound on Cold Starts

[balakris]

I have a 2004 with 85K miles, still on the original clutch. When I start the car in the mornings recently, I hear a grinding sound for a few seconds and then it goes away. Sounds like the starter/ flywheel. When I start the car it is usually in gear, but I fully depress the clutch, and give it a go. The car starts fine, just the grinding sound for a few seconds.

The shifting, and gear selection are working normally, and there are no sounds when starting the car when warm. Maybe the serpentine belt is getting old, because the sound is almost like a squeal...

Thoughts?

[repiv]

Just how cold is it where you live when you first start the car? I assume that it won't do it again on any subsequent starts of the day, right?
This can be one of several things:

1. If it's really cold, the noise can be the secondary air injection pump. It's located in the front left corner space of the bumper. During cold starts, this pump will run for several seconds to several minutes, depending on how cold it is outside. If it's really cold, the pump bearings can be very stiff and squawk for a few seconds till they warm up a bit. This usually takes a few seconds even if it continues to run. Next time, have the tranny in neutral and release the clutch as soon as it starts, then jump out and put you head down near the front corner and listen. That's where the sound should come from and then disappear from. There is no fix for this. It's annoying but quite normal. My car did this the very first winter I owned it. I am the first owner.
2. It could also be the belt or the belt tensioner. Again, next time you do a cold start, have the hood already open and quickly run out and listen to the engine bay for the belt or tensioner areas for sound. The fix for this would be a new belt or a new tensioner.
3. It could be the starter "Bendix" (Honda calls it something else). That's the starter drive gear and shaft that jumps out and hooks onto the flywheel. If it's not retracting, it can make a noise. The fix for this would be a new starter.

[raymo19]

Or if you're old like me get someone else to start the car while you stand in fornt of it with the hood open.:lol2:

[Belknap777]

mine does the same here lately. im in texas so its not cold. it did this in the middle of summer too. it comes and goes so i havent paid it much attention. my money is on belt/tensioner

[sdosmil77]

03 86k my money on mine is the starter. even tho sometimes starter noises will have a whine 2 it but im goin 2wards the starter. its not every time either

[pj5]

besides the annoying ticking noise what is the impact to performance that the timing chain tensioner will have? thanks