Hi all,
I just purchased an 06 JCW with 63k miles on it and this didn't start till I got it home.
When I start the engine, right after it turns I've I hear a loud squeal that only last for about a second. Can't hear anything at idle or under load revving the motor. At first I was reading threads about the super charger and water pump failing, but the videos demonstrating the failure sound of the super and water pump don't match what I hear.
So I then got to thinking since it's only at start up perhaps it's the starter. It sounds almost like if you turn the key while the engine is already running. Kind of a whirring/bad bearing.

Any suggestions on how to better diagnose if it is the starter? Or worse?

Forgot to add, I had sone buddies over and I demonstrated the noise for them and they said it was coming from the front centerish of the engine. And after they left about an hour later I tried to hear it again. It wasn't doing it. I started and stopped the engine several times but it wouldn't do it.

 

you don't mean the normal vrrrrRRRrrr sound on every startup, do you?