I recently noticed that I get a loud grinding noise when I start the car. It is not the noise from the ABS self check as discussed many times here.

It doesn't happen all the time but I noticed it a few days ago and I noticed it today when I started the car. As soon as I start the car, there is a loud Grrt noise which is louder than the ABS noise I sometimes hear when I first move the car.

This is not my everyday car, and sometimes I don't even start it but it happened twice and only after it has been sitting for a few days. If the car is turned off and restarted in a short time, the noise doesn't repeat.

It has got me concerned enough to ask if anyone else had this happen.

Any thoughts?

 

First of all, I assume you're fully aware of that "ABS self check" and pretty familiar with that sound (thump or flap).


I'm not sure why you only hear another significant "loud grinding" at startup, which only happens after the car has been sitting for a long time. Is it parking on slope? Does that noise occure when you "shift" out of Park? Or does it only happen when your car reaches the certain speed/MPH/RPM?

 

The car is parked on flat ground, and I hear the noise as I start the car without even putting it into drive or reverse. Once I put the car into drive, and as I initially approach 10mph, I hear the ABS self check.

The grinding noise I mentioned is actually quite a bit louder than the ABS check. It almost sounds as loud as if I tried to start a car that is already running.

Again, as I said, it only occurs when the car has been sitting for a while. If I shut the car off immediately, and restart the car, I can't replicate that grinding sound.

 

AC compressor??

 

I know the weather is starting to warm up liitle in the east coast, but its still only 30 to 40 degrees.
I have the temp set at 70, so I doubt that the compressor would turn on.

 

That is most likely what it is... Doesn't really mater if the temp is cold/cool. If you use the "auto" function on the heater/AC and/or defrost it will cycle the AC compressor at will to remove moisture from the cabin etc.. Even if your just running the heater.....

 

KJSmitty, thanks... I used to remember we have had this similar conversation a few days ago...



Edit: We haven't heard the further update from there yet...

 

I will admit that the "thunk" and "grind" type of noise that the TL compressor clutch makes (most noticeable at start-up) is louder than other vehicles I have owned... Truthfully, I don't think it's an issue, but it's something I was going to mention to the service dept,,,, if I ever really "need" to take it in.....

Cheers Rets!

 

Well I scheduled an online appt with the service dept for next Tuesday to determine if they can tell me what the noise is. If it is the compressor, it is the loudest and grinding sounding ac clutch engagement I have ever heard.

Not that happy to hear such a loud noise when the engine is so quite.

 

Concur!
Let us know what they come up with...

Thanks

 

I took the car to the dealer today, and I was told that there was nothing wrong with the car. It was hooked up to a computer to read any trouble codes in the ECU due to a seperate hard start condition but everything is OK. The hard start was most likely the car not recognizing the chip in the key due to the temperature, and not because its a ULEV.
I was told that the loud grinding noise is actually the ABS self test - I was told that it is actually that loud and that the car need not be in gear for this test to occur. At times, the ABS will do a test when in first put into gear and is moving, but if the car is not driven for a few days(especially when the weather is cold), the car will do this test upon start up.
I'm not really sure if this is true, but at least its still under warranty.