any ideas???

[stevie G]

Hi guys,

just tried to start my car (E46 325ci) and heard a horrible noise coming from the engine, i opened the bonnet to have a look and it sounds like its coming from the top of the engine... so i switch off the car, have a look under it for oil an stuff on the floor but dont see anything, tried to start it again and it wont even turn over, the starter just sounds like its spinning free but not turning the engine... :argh:

I ve just spent 20 grand on this car (new fuel pump&throttle butterfly, engine gearbox and diff serviced cooling system flushed new expansion bottle and rad hoses and some cosmetic stuff...)

and now im waiting for the flatbed to come take it back to tune tech....
im running out of money here

anyone know what the problem could be?

 

[drugekull]

Hi guys,

just tried to start my car (E46 325ci) and heard a horrible noise coming from the engine, i opened the bonnet to have a look and it sounds like its coming from the top of the engine... so i switch off the car, have a look under it for oil an stuff on the floor but dont see anything, tried to start it again and it wont even turn over, the starter just sounds like its spinning free but not turning the engine... :argh:

I ve just spent 20 grand on this car (new fuel pump&throttle butterfly, engine gearbox and diff serviced cooling system flushed new expansion bottle and rad hoses and some cosmetic stuff...)

and now im waiting for the flatbed to come take it back to tune tech....
im running out of money here

anyone know what the problem could be?

Hey Stevie

I hate when that happens

You have not described the type of noise but I would be guess its your starter motor that has not disingaged from the flywheel that caused a lovely noise

Let us know what the machie says

Cheers

 

[Hellas]

Coilpacks.

 

[Legacy]

Coilpacks.

All of them at once?

I'm guessing your starters' solenoid got stuck in the flywheel ring-gear and made the grinding noise. Would explain why the engine now won't turn over.

 

[moranor@axis]

i also think its the starters' solenoid... depending on what noise it made...

 

[veecee]

i thought the normal position for a starter solenoid would be the disengaged one. in other words it would require power (current) for it to stay engaged.

however, if the battery doesnt have enough power then you often get a loud and fast cluck cluck cluck noise. if you then use the rest of the battery power trying to start it, and the battery runs out...

so can you describe the noise for us?

 

[Sankekur]

I had a similar problem with my starter a while back, wen I would try and start the car I would get a grinding noise, this happened from time to time. Then one morning when I tried to start the car all I got was the sound of the starter turning, removed the starter, and found that the gear was seized to the shaft that it supposed to slide so the solenoid was not able to push the gear into to bell housing for it to make contact with the gear on the flywheel (or could not push it in all the way hence the grinding noise that it had before). Replaced the starter and has been starting fine ever since.

Edit: I am guessing the reverse might also be possible, for the spring to no longer be strong enough to pull the gear of the starter out of the gear on the flywheel.

 

[veecee]

that makes perfect sense too... so i reckon consensus is that its the starter and not the motor... at least until we get a description of the noise. :=):

 

[stevie G]

that makes perfect sense too... so i reckon consensus is that its the starter and not the motor... at least until we get a description of the noise. :=):

the noise was very loud and it had no specific rhythm (crank or cam speed)
literally sounded like there was loose pieces of metal floating around somewhere, it intensified with rpm increase and the engine was otherwise smooth(not stuttering or missing or anything) switched it off to look for oil on the floor and when i tried to start again it wouldnt turn over but the starter was spinning and sounded like it was under no load or it wasnt turning the engine at all but spinning real fast all by its self...:thumbdo:

 

[stevie G]

thank for all the opinions guys, such a useful forum man...

It was the starter bendix-not sure how to spell that-
Tune tech rebuilt my starter for me (R2600.00)
and everything is fine now...:=):

 

[moranor@axis]

glad its sorted :rollsmile:

 

[Sankekur]

thank for all the opinions guys, such a useful forum man...

It was the starter bendix-not sure how to spell that-
Tune tech rebuilt my starter for me (R2600.00)
and everything is fine now...:=):

I am hoping that price included the fitment as well.

 

[stevie G]

thank for all the opinions guys, such a useful forum man...

It was the starter bendix-not sure how to spell that-
Tune tech rebuilt my starter for me (R2600.00)
and everything is fine now...:=):

I am hoping that price included the fitment as well.

ja the price was something like 1650 for recon starter and around 680 for labor if i remember correctly...

 

[Sankekur]

Ok, cool, that seems ok, R1k labour to fit a starter is not bad at all.