Cold start, grinding sound?

Flatulentoldgoat

Is my starter motor suspect? Haven't driven for a few days and I noticed a grinding sound after turning the engine on. Lasts a few seconds. Then it stops and I hear a whirring sound for further 10 seconds. No issues otherwise and off I go.

It's a Nissan Note 1.5 D. 2012....

Ganga

Sounds very much like starter motor or could be the ring gear on the flywheel is shot .can you get the starter motor off ? if not it is not a massive job for your trusted local garage.

Flatulentoldgoat

If it was really a bad starter would it happen every time? Not just after a cold start 5 days of no use

chrisw

My wife's 2010 Nissan Note has done the same thing for the last 7 years. It does it every cold start but never when it's warm. I've always presumed it was the starter sticking for some reason. Although it's a bit of a harsh sound, we've just lived with it and it doesn't seem to have caused any other issues.

AdrianC

Flatulentoldgoat said:

If it was really a bad starter would it happen every time? Not just after a cold start 5 days of no use

Entirely possible for it to only happen periodically if the starter's simply getting a bit sticky.