RiccoRammer

Hi guys been experiencing a weird sound when starting my car.
(2008 Honda Civic 98000 kms/ 60894 miles 100% stock been to each service on time)


During the past summer the car made the starting noise rarely and I did not concern myself too much about it.

Now that's it's getting cooler here in the Southern hemisphere it seems to make the noise on the 1st start of the day,

The noise only happens for an instant, probably about 250 milliseconds and then it's gone.

I can start the car (it makes the noise) wait 10 seconds, stop and restart the car and there's no noise.

I can leave the car at work all day 12 hours parked in a basement, start the car in the evening and there is no noise.

My initial thought is that the starter on a cold morning does not disengage quick enough, and the noise is the starter pinion gear grinding against the flywheel.
I took the car to the dealership left it with them overnight with strict instructions to listen carefully on the first start. They called me and said it was definitely a problem with the starter motor (I'm not so sure), unfortunately for me Honda South Africa had no stock and I'm waiting for a part to be imported from Europe.
It's been a week and I'm not so certain it's the starter, as I don't understand why it only does this in the cold and only for the very first start, as I said I can stop the car re-start it and no noise whilst it's still cold? (does a starter heat up that quickly?)

I've been looking at the threads about the VTC actuator problem but there does not seem to be known issues with the 1.8L 2008 civic, and I'm not sure its to do with this as the noise is for a split second not 2 seconds and it's not a rattle more like a grate/grind of teeth.
I tried to turn the engine over for a moment,without it actually starting I did this 3 times then on the forth attempt I started the car and it still made the noise which would seem to me that it's not the starter?

Would appreciate any insights?

(i'll be posting progress to this problem)

earthman

I also have a different Civic cold start issue (much different sound) so I feel like I have seen everything the internet has to offer with advice on Civic cold start issues . This sound you posted is a grinding noise associated with a faulty starter. There are also a few youtube videos of this exact sound as well and resolutions confirming that it was the starter. Definitely not the same sound as the VTC actuator rattle, which mainly affect the Accords, and is a much more prolonged sound

integra15

It is a common issue. You just have to time your use of the key right. Don't let it crank longer than it has to to get the motor going.

RiccoRammer

I had Honda replace the starter motor today... holding thumbs !!
will report back

RiccoRammer

It's been a couple of weeks, and I'm happy to report that after having the starter replaced the noise is now gone :-).