No one enjoys hearing their car make those awful grinding noises because that’s usually a sign that the car needs a repair. But when it happens, it happens, and knowing how to take care of  a car starter that makes grinding noise can go a long way toward saving you money.

As we are dealing with expensive and potentially dangerous equipment, it is important to be careful and to follow these directions prudently.

Steps to fix car start up grinding noise

1)   Lift the hood and disconnect the battery.

2)   Locate the starter (usually under either the hood or the vehicle). To locate, follow the positive battery cable from the battery and it should lead directly to the starter.

3)   Raise the vehicle with a jack if need be, then remove the positive battery cable from the starter motor.

4)   Remove the solenoid energizer wire. The wire is much smaller than the battery cable, but is still a vital part of the starter motor.

5)   Remove the starter mounting bolts and set aside.

6)   Look within the starter mounting hole and examine the ring gear teeth. When completely normal, the teeth should appear fresh, the edges should be sharp and crisp, and the teeth should be free of chips and discoloration. If the teeth don’t look like this, then unfortunately the transmission must be removed and the flywheel or ring gear flex plate must be replaced. However, if the ring gear doesn’t show any abnormal wear, then the problem lies with the starter and it will have to be replaced.

7)   Test the starter by mounting it in a large vise. With the jumper cables, attach the ground cable from a battery to the starter body and a positive cable to the starter positive post (where the main battery attaches). Now, attach the jumper wire from the solenoid-activator connection. Attach this wire directly to the starter positive post. If done correctly, the starter should start to spin and the starter drive-gear should forcefully extend.

8)   Finally, check on the starter drive gear teeth. These are made of much harder steel and thus should show far less sign of wear than the ring gear. Even so, replace the starter assembly anyways. The problem is that the solenoid is weak and not pushing the gear far enough into the ring gear. This process creates grinding that is forceful enough to start the car, but ultimately it will die and will need to be fixed.

If all this technical jargon seems like too much to handle, use TalkLocal to find a local auto repair professional in just minutes who can assist with any issues.

Catalytic Converter Troubleshooting

The catalytic converter is a very important device on your vehicle’s emissions control system that reduces harmful nitrogen oxide emissions.  Typically, the device stays working for the entire life of the vehicle, but occasionally the catalytic converter fails. Read on for more information on catalytic converter troubleshooting.

Although malfunction is rare, it is important to know the signs of a defective catalytic converter.  Signs that something is wrong include:

–   Your vehicle does not accelerate when you step on the gas pedal.

–   Your vehicle’s fuel efficiency suddenly drops.

–   Your vehicle des not start.

–   Your vehicle fails an emissions test.

–   The MIL or Check Engine light turns on.

All vehicles sold in the United States after 1996 include an On-board Diagnostic System that tests the catalytic converter.  If too much pollution escapes from the tailpipe, the car illuminates the MIL light and produces a trouble code that can be read by a technician.

Most commonly, the catalytic converter fails in older cars when they become clogged and gas cannot escape out of the car.  This can also cause the engine to die.

If you find that your catalytic converter is clogged you will have to replace the system.  It is more cost effective to replace the defective system then try to repair it, which may cause problems further down the road.  TalkLocal will help solve your problem by connecting you to a certified auto-repair technician in minutes!