My 2005 CTT recently started making a whirling noise on startup. First thing that popped in my mind was the starter. Typically, a bad starter will only make noise as soon as the engine starts, caused by the starter drive not retracting and disengaging from the ring gear on the flywheel. The funny thing is that it only makes the loud whirl when the car starts in cold temperatures...we've been seeing single digit temperatures. Once the car is off and running, startup's with a warm engine no longer make the whirl.

Unlike other vehicles, the started on the Cayenne is (1) very pricey (upwards to $600-800 new, $400-600 rebuilt and (2) located under the intake manifold and a little labor intensive to get to.

Is this a failing starter or is the noise coming from a dry bushing in the bendix drive?

Any opinions?

 

Sometimes the water pump will make more noise on startup than under normal operation, especially when it is first starting to go, bearing type noise. I have heard the starters make noise intermittantly, as you stated, when the vehicle is first started, it chatters a bit.

 

I thought of that...but the noise goes away immediately after the engine starts. As soon as the cylinders fire and the engine turns over, the noise goes away. Consistent in the duration of noise when it happens...again only when it is really cold.

- bob

 

it is the air pumps

 

if it sounds like a kazoo, then its your starter!

 

My starter has been doing this for over a year intermittently. I have a starter waiting in the tool box but so far so good.

 

Tee-hee, you said 'bendix drive'. (I have no idea what that is...)

 

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=bendix+drive

 

Thanks for your input, but I am fairly sure it is not the air pumps. I know what they sound like, and I just rebuilt the compressor. The noise only occurs on startup for less than a second.

 

Not entirely sure why this is funny...

 

Are you planning on installing it yourself? My understanding is that the unit is located under the intake manifolds. If I decide to tackle this...I'll be sure to do a DIY post.

 

If it is in fact the starter.... good time to also do the coolant pipes if they havent been done already.

 

Yeah...I was planning on that until I found out the previous owner already did'em...

 

I will probably attempt it myself and do the coolant pipes at the same time. But I'm all for you trying it first.. If you need some info from the manual, let me know, I can send you some PDF files.
Andy

 

lol