Horrible, horrible noise

[cash4clunker]

First, let me say Hi and thanks already for the info I've found here to get my no-start problem fixed. (Bad coil in distributor.)

I was in the position a few months ago of needing a cheap, cheap car and ended up with this '92 Camry 4 cyl. The good thing is this car seems great for DIY'ers and I'm going to learn to be one.

My problem was this morning I went to start the car and it made this horrible metal-on-metal grating noise. I of course immediately released the key. As I urgently needed to be somewhere, I hesitatingly tried cranking it again and everything worked as it should. While driving to my destination, I got on the phone to triple-A and ordered up a membership - just in case :-)

So would this likely be the starter? Maybe some gear teeth ended up in a position that made it hard to turn at first? Is this something that happens on a rare occasion or is it a harbinger of trouble to come?

Many thanks in advance.

p.s. - I have lots of things to fix: shocks, flakey speedometer (sensor on transmission), power windows, door sensors, lights, and probably a dozen other things as well. I've already found lots of good info here and in my Haynes book but I'm sure you'll be hearing from me plenty often too.

[the_professional]

Yep, you got it, its your starter.

Mine made an odd sound once a year. I had it tested, and its fine. Just make sure you get adequate volts from your battery, sometimes it'll make a funky sound if your not getting enough voltage.

[RU2CHKN]

same thing happened to me as well and yeah check to see if you have adequate voltage coming from the battery

[whip_cracker]

Yeah... have heard one of those noises before. Sounds like starter. If it keeps happening, I'd be getting that fixed. If your battery's a heap-a, turd that and get a new one. Remember: Just coz it reads 12v, doesn't mean it's packing any power. It's the amperage that you're needing. Mind you, you might already know this for all I know.

[Kenny_McCormic]

Have the battery load tested. If batt is good pull the starter and make sure the gear slides properly, lube if its binding or whatever.