R53 JCW screeching noise on cold startup
 

Hello folks,

I have an '05 R53 MCS JCW and I just started noticing a screeching noise upon startup (mostly cold startups, but occasionally on warm startups as well). I'm posting a video here that demos the sound (this is with the hood closed, but I could get one with the hood open if needed) -- .

Anyone have any thoughts on what might be going on here? Car drives fine otherwise. Any help appreciated!

beemboy

Sounds like it could be the starter getting stuck and not releasing after it starts up. Mine would do this when it dropped a certain temp outside, but if it was 65+ degrees out it would be fine. All on cold starts as well. Check out this thread HERE with a video with a similar noise to yours. Starters HERE if needed.

yep, sounds like the starter

Yep. Starter I think. My '04 MCS has has been doing to for a few years (cold weather only). Less this winter. Comes and goes. No longterm issues so far. There is another thread on the topic. Unfortunately no definitive solution. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...noise-r53.html

Thanks a bunch. I hope that's all it is. Certainly a weird noise and I'm going to wait around to see if it goes away in the summer time.

That's what I did. I'd get the noise during winter and then summer came along and it stopped due to the warmer weather, but once the cold weather came around again the noise was back. If it is indeed the starter that is your issue, it's better to replace it sooner rather than later as it could cause damage to your flywheel. I also kept my old starter after replacing it to have it rebuilt as a back up for the future.