MX-3.com

Recently I have developed this "sound" when starting my car. It happens only once, for about a half second, everytime that I start the car. It does not happen at all while the engine is running. It's can be best described as "errrrr" LOL
Anyone have an idea what it could be?
Thanks,<p>Jason

WOW.. me too!!! I have the DOHC.. it's jsut a quick quick little KERRRRRRRKKK like way quick. I don't know what it is at all!!!! AHHHH Same thing though !

It mite be your alternater belt. Thats the same noise my car would make before and then me and my dad change my belts and the noise stoped.<p>[ April 22, 2003: Message edited by: Jowga28 ]</p>

Ok I might try that. I hope that is the problem, because that is easy and cheap to fix.

hmm.. it's all coming together.. my ac squeeks when coming on too... wow.. that just might be it.. cause if it's looose and worn out.. it might be doing sumthing like that!!! HEHE.. soo smart

could be your starter not disengaging right away too. mine does that.

It really does sound like a belt. Maybe when the alternator (or some other belt) goes from totally stoped to running it slips just a tad, and then is fine.

so i started my car like 5 times just to hear it today, and it's liek just when the engine catches.. so maybe the starter going back off the flywheel? Almost like it doesn't disengage fast enough or sumthin... but i'll just let it stay how it is.. till i getta new engine.. then just yay

yea i'll just wait till my starter breaks or gets really bad before i replace it

Ok I finally got somebody else to turn on my car, while I stuck my head in the engine bay and listened. LOL It's definitely not the belts, it's coming from the right side of the car. Almost sounds like it's coming from inside the air intake, although it's probably just because it's around that area. What do you think?

off topic, but how good of a gain did you see from that pacesetter exhaust?

mine does the exact same thing. i have no idea where the noise is coming from. my guess is it's prolly something with the starter disenguaging from the flywheel. if you have ever heard a R/C car motor with bad bearings, that's exactly what it sounds like. it's the sound of the shaft bouncing around inside it's journals, and it's easily fixed w/ WD-40. i dont' really think that that is applicable here, but it's always made the noise, and it still ain't busted. so i guess just drive it 'till it breaks

someone at mazda told me a few years back that our cars have some sort of heat shield that vibrates on startup whenever the engine is cold. if the noise is nowhere to be heard when the engine is hot, then maybe that guy was right? don't know...