I let the car sit for a week, and I went to go start it the other day and it wouldn't start. There's a loud grinding noise when I turn the key to start, almost as if the starter wasn't engaging the flywheel fully. However, the tach shows 1500 RPM or so. Doesn't sound like it's even trying to fire up though, just grinding.

I tried it a few more times, and then it stopped turning at all. Just a clunk when I turn the key. I thought I had drained my battery. Then I left the key in the "on" position for 1 minute or so, then tried turning the key to "start". It fired right up.

Today, same exact symptoms. Grinding as if the starter isn't fully engaged with flywheel, although tach does show RPM increase. If I leave key in the "on" position for 15 or so seconds, and then try to start it, it starts right up.

I'm baffled! What do you guys think is going on??? Why would leaving it in the "on" position for a few seconds before starting it fix the problem?


PS. I replaced the starter in April, never had any issues until now. This was also the first time starting the car when it's been in the 30s out. Could that be a factor?

 

There is only so many things that will cause a starter to grind. Most of those are in the starter. Alignment is another cause but that tends to not go away and come back. Also I have no clue why the key on would have any effect. There is no power going to the starter "Key on" It could be that the starter generates heat the first time you crank it then after 30 seconds the starter heat soaks and works better hot.

Might want to make sure your starter is tight and does not have any cracks in the front nose housing. It kind sounds like the starter is coming a part. Video might help but I would really limit the times you start it with the grinding noise. The flywheel IS getting damaged and they is a heck of a lot harder to change then the starter.

 

There's no way the tach should show 1500 RPM. while cranking unless there is a defect in the distributor. Normally it should only move very slightly to maybe 200-300 RPM.

As for the noise, the starter could have gotten loose.

 

I'll have a friend take a look at what the engine is doing when I try to crank it. I'll also check to see that the starter didn't come loose (I don't see why it would).

Yeah, that's why I'm so confused. I know for sure that leaving it in "on" for 15 seconds or so fixes the problem, because when I didn't do that and repeatedly tried starting it, it would grind or just make a clunk as if there wasn't enough juice. If I wait with it in "on", and then try, it fires without much hesitation on the first try.

Does the tach read off the distributor? I know, really bizarre, but the tach does get that high when it's grinding while I'm trying to start it. Really really strange...


Could it be a battery issue? I personally doubt it, but maybe due to the cold weather? (30s isn't even that cold though...)

 

Forget about what I said. There is no distributor on a 98. For some reason I though this was an LT1 discussion. The cam and crank sensors determine the rpm on an LS1. The pcm uses that information to drive the tach. Perhaps the voltage is too low (under 6 volts) for the pcm to operate properly while cranking. Still, it shouldn't read 1500 rpm.