Starter grinding noise

**Offroad_Goals** · September 21st, 2016 09:34 AM

Permission to post.

I have this problem on my 08' hilux. When I crank the engine, sometimes the starter makes a metal-to-metal grinding noise (probably the bendix drive and the flywheel) although sometimes, it cranks just like normal. No grinding sound. When it does grind, I just switch the keys back and start the engine again and done. I had the starter cleaned maybe 6 months ago and then the problem appears again lately.

Does any of you guys experience this kind of problem too? I will post a sample video soon on youtube and I will paste here the link when it's already available.

I also noticed that when I turn the switch to "ON", there would be a clicking sound from the area around the starter. I don't think that is normal since the '12 fortuner of my neighbour don't have this kind of clicking sound.

Can you share your opinion(s) regarding this problem mga sir? I would love to hear your side. Thank you in advance! Much appreciated!

**Offroad_Goals** · September 21st, 2016 09:37 AM

UPDATE: As per reading some articles and websites over the internet, some people suggests it might be the battery. I recently swapped the new amaron battery of our pajero to my 1 1/2 year old motolite excel and the problem still exist. I don't think it has something to do with the battery

**jick.cejoco** · September 21st, 2016 12:38 PM

if it grinds while cranking, the problem might be a bad spot on the flywheel ring gear

if it grinds after the engine starts, it might be the drive pinion gear delayed return to retracted position and the pinion gear is turning with the flywheel

**dr. d** · September 21st, 2016 01:03 PM

if i were me, i'd ask another mechanic to bring down the starter and have a look at it.
it's not terribly expensive, and it sure beats theorizing.
yes, i'd like to have a look at the entire circumference of the flywheel....

**Offroad_Goals** · September 21st, 2016 05:44 PM

UPDATE: Here are some of the videos I took. I will paste here the link.

This is for the grinding sound:

Toyota Hilux 1KD-FTV grinding noise when cranking - YouTube

And this one is for the clicking sound, which at first I thought was the starter but later realized it was not.

Toyota Hilux 1KD-FTV loud clicking sound in the engine bay - YouTube

**iameldrin** · September 21st, 2016 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by Offroad_Goals

UPDATE: Here are some of the videos I took. I will paste here the link.

This is for the grinding sound:

Toyota Hilux 1KD-FTV grinding noise when cranking - YouTube

And this one is for the clicking sound, which at first I thought was the starter but later realized it was not.

Toyota Hilux 1KD-FTV loud clicking sound in the engine bay - YouTube

Not a mechanic and not pro, but as I watched the video I think the noise is coming around the place where the alternator and compressor are, i have a similar sound like that tik tik and it only happens when the ac comp is on...

so the verdict i think you just need to bring it to a mechanic, i know a good mechanic if you guys live around rizal

**Offroad_Goals** · September 21st, 2016 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by iameldrin

Not a mechanic and not pro, but as I watched the video I think the noise is coming around the place where the alternator and compressor are, i have a similar sound like that tik tik and it only happens when the ac comp is on...

so the verdict i think you just need to bring it to a mechanic, i know a good mechanic if you guys live around rizal

I appreciate your suggestion sir, thank you! Although mine still makes a clicking sound even though the A/C compressor is not on. As long as I turn the keys to "On", the noise will start to come up. I went to a mechanic earlier and he said to me that it was probably the "Turbo Relay" but he's not that sure so he will have to consult his friend who specialises on those first. I don't know i'll just wait for a call. But what is a turbo relay anyway?

**Offroad_Goals** · October 28th, 2016 04:09 PM

I just wanted to UPDATE this thread for possible technical reference in future for my fellow tsikoteers who also own a Toyota Hilux and might experience such problems someday.

I had it checked few weeks ago. As what my mechanic said, there's nothing wrong with other components of my starter except the encircled part of the bendix drive which I will upload below. The encircled part is a trimmed part of the shaft or the metal tube something of the bendix drive assembly. I personally got the chance to hold it and it's let say 1 or 2 millimeters deeper; it's really small but you can definitely feel the difference. It happened probably due to wear and tear since the car almost have 208,000+ kilometers on it. My mechanic told me that as time goes by, grease goes into that tiny trimmed part of the shaft which makes the drive or something (The other hand of the mechanic) to not push completely the pinion gear to the flywheel so it just spins freely on that trimmed part, thus also causes the loud and nasty grinding noise which I uploaded on youtube. The link is available on my recent comments.

Anyway, I met someone in manila who owns an alternator and starter shop and told me he has a surplus starter for my Hilux. It's an OEM Denso, just surplus; Made in thailand, same as mine. They're identical so I was able to get it replaced with my starter.

Fast forward, it starts now with just one click, but it slides a little. Sounds like the pinion gear and the flywheel slips a little bit when engaging, though it does create a noise, it's somehow less noisier and less nastier than my previous starter. The seller told to just observe for a few days because maybe the starter is still on an "Adjustment Period" right now and will just normally fit the flywheel after days of usage; but my mechanic said that if after a week it's still there, he suggested I visit his shop so he'll be able to remove and open the surplus starter, maybe it needs some lubricating or it needs to refitted well again matching the flywheel or last resort, he will try to swap the bendix drive of the surplus starter to the original starter.

I will post tomorrow the link of the sample video of how the surplus one starts and I will update again this thread after a few days to a week after I have got to bring my car to the mechanic and had fixed everything that needs fixing. Thanks!

**Offroad_Goals** · October 28th, 2016 04:13 PM

Wow. How can I upload photos here? Why does the tsikot website on my browser doesn't load completely. I can't find the add file or add photo button

**Offroad_Goals** · October 28th, 2016 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Offroad_Goals

Wow. How can I upload photos here? Why does the tsikot website on my browser doesn't load completely. I can't find the add file or add photo button

It uploaded. I don't know what just happened. Anyway, the picture below is my Bendix Drive Assembly from my old starter (This is OEM; Denso Brand; Made in Thailand). The encircled part, is what we thought the problem.