My Gen. 4 V6 made REALLY funny noise when trying to start:

[kenratboy]

I got in my car (it ran only 4 hours earlier), did everything like normal, and tried to start it.

It made a LOUD grinding noise.

I stopped, and tried it again, same loud grinding sound!

I got out, popped the hood, and look around, then tried it again. It turned over perfectly. I ran it for a while, drove it, hit 5,000 RPM's, started, stopped, turned it on and off, and nothing. It seems fine.

Any ideas? My only guess is something slipped and the starter motor just spun, and my third try made everything work. The belts were replaced like 3,000 miles ago, so not really old or really new ones.

Thanks!

[Gen3cruiser]

The belts were replaced like 3,000 miles ago, so not really old or really new ones.

Umm, those are new. You know they last for at least 60,000 miles don't you?

[kenratboy]

Originally posted by Gen3cruiser
Umm, those are new. You know they last for at least 60,000 miles don't you?

Not new means I was not on the way home from the mechanic when this happened. This was many months ago.

[Gen3cruiser]

What? Your not making sense. You were writing about your timing belts, not when you visited your mechainic. 3,000 miles on a timing belt is "new"

[Nick]

was the noise while the starter was engaged? was the engine turning?

cuz if the engine wasn't turning its the selenoid that wasn't pushing the starter gear all the way into the flywheel

[kenratboy]

Originally posted by Oldman
was the noise while the starter was engaged? was the engine turning?

cuz if the engine wasn't turning its the selenoid that wasn't pushing the starter gear all the way into the flywheel

Yeah! You win a prize for helping!

No, the engine was not spinning at all. What you say sounds right to me. There was only the sound of the starter motor - the engine was not doing anything.

So, what be up with a starter solonoid?

Thanks!