Hey all, (I already tried searching)

I've been getting a strange noise at start up, only on the first (or sometimes immediate second) cold start, just after the engine starts. It doesn't sound like a starter/flywheel "zing", but kind of a squeal and growl noise.

edit: I added a link to a short video clip with the sound in it. http://youtu.be/UsU6Ni99Umg

The mini is pretty much stock (no under-drive pulley or headers), and it doesn't happen every time. I don't live in the snow, and it's not very cold out here. It happens randomly, and I can never seem to catch the sound on my phone (to post the sound).

Any ideas what it may be, or where to look? I bought an extended warranty, but I'm not thrilled about taking the car in to the shop and getting stuck with a repair bill...

 

I have the same thing, mini makes a squealing high pitched noise (near the drivers side) for a few seconds after start up in the cold, goes away after I drive for a bit.

Anyone have any experience with this issue?

 

Just to clarify, the noise occurs when you actually first start your car or when you first start your car in the morning and take off in first gear.

The famous "Chewbacca" noise is when you take off into gear and it makes a growl, whine, noise(caused by glazed flywheel). Just making sure sorry if your talking about just starting your car

 

No, I know what the Chewbacca sound is like as it also happens, but this is definitely not it. I can't speak for the OP but for me it happens as soon as I start the car on cold mornings.

 

Correct, I'm only talking about start-up. It doesn't have to be morning, nor cold (as in outside temperature), but it frequently occurs during the first start-up after sitting for a while, which is typically overnight.

 

Might be the throwout bearing is just being noisy. The residual dust created from normal wear from the friction in the clutch sometimes gets into the bearing. Listen to it while you push and hold clutch in. If the sound goes away, thats the likely cause. Mine gets noisy in my 05 R53 sometimes too when its cold. Its not a huge problem though, just a slight anoyance. It is however a huge expense to replace it. Keep driving it and if it gets to the point where its unbearable, have it replaced along with the clutch. Dont you just love how we have to live with all these qurks in these cars? Dont get me wrong, I love the way it looks, drives, handles, etc, etc. I probibly will keep it for a long time. But if you compaire the overall quality, reliability, enginering, ect, ect, of these cars to somthing like a Civic SI hatchback, they are pieces of s#%t. Ok, bring on the haters...

 

I have to hold the clutch down when I start the car, don't I?

I always do, and this sound happens with the clutch pushed to the floor, just not every single time. I didn't know I could start the car without the clutch being down. I'll try that later...

I keep trying to record the sound with my phone, but it's like every time I have the phone ready to record, there's no noise. My car has become self-aware. Skynet is up and running. Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Is the noise even coming form the clutch, or could it be something like a belt tensioner going? That would be my thoughts.

 

When was the last time you changed your belt?

 

You have to have the clutch pushed in inorder to start the car. No option or way around that.

I too get this noise, and have just chalked it up to being a noisey TOB.

 

Changed my belt?

oooooooohhhhhhhhh, that's an interesting idea. It's probably the original, but it's a 2005 with 57,000 miles so I guess that's worth looking into. I was considering taking it in for an oil change anyways, perhaps I'll have them check that out while it's there.

 

We had a similar noise. Was diagnosed as the bearings going bad in the alternator belt tensionor. Replaced today, and all is quiet. 155K miles on our cooper.

 

If it sounds like a mouse got squished or there's a faint chirp, it's probably a belt. The AC pulley on my old car would stick sometimes and the power steering pump was bad so it made a dreadful noise in the winter. Fortunately the alternator had it's own belt!
Anyway, throw out bearing in the clutch has a distinct noise, hard to describe. I'd almost describe it as a ringing clang but I have yet to blow a clutch completely :D Basically if your clutch was going you'd know about it.

 

When the belt stretches enough in can squeal. You are about 20K overdue for a new one.

 

Yep it could really be both of theese problems, I have experianced both. Out of the two I would go with the belt due to the mileage, but dont hold me to that I've been known for being wrong.

 

I ordered a belt tension tool today, and I'm trying to convince my wallet/gf to let me get a 15% pulley since I have to buy a new belt anyways... I'll be sure to post after I replace the belt and let everyone know if the belt was making the noise. Wish me luck (on both counts)!

 

Has anyone solved this issue? My '04 MCS just started to grind/squeel for a second or so just after the engine starts. So far, the noise only occurs during the 1st start of the day. Based on the location/tone it sounds like the starter motor but I did just replace the belt... I seems a few owners have experienced a similar noise but all the treads dried up before a solution was posted!

 

sounds exactly like my problem. I haven't had the belt replaced yet since the car was wrecked and it's in the shop. I thought it may have something to do with the starter too, but thought a belt was a cheaper fix option. When I get the car back I plan to swap the belt and have the car checked out.

Let us know if you get the problem fixed and I'll do the same.

 

Anyone made progress on this problem? I have a 04 MCS with 88k on it that makes a similar noise approx. 2 seconds after the engine fires up. The noise is independent of clutch operation. Serpentine belt has less than 3k miles on it. No other bearing noises really...

Has anyone pulled the starter to look at the bendix gear? Is it possible to bench test the starter?

Cheers!

 

So with the summer months the noise seemingly vanished, however the noise is back in full force.

I changed the belt when I did the brakes in July. I heard the noise shortly after, so belt change did nothing. I'm at 67000 miles now so I'm gonna take it in to the dealer to at least have my leaky/empty motor mount replaced and supercharger checked before the 70000 mile warranty expires.

I'll be sure to share if I learn anything.

 

Yep, with the cooling weather the post start-up noise is back on my car too. I had the car in the shop for other work last week and asked if they could figure out the source of the noise. The report came back that it is the starter. It sounds like removing the starter is a big job. The shop didn't think repairs were critical at this point, unless the noise was bothering me.... I guess after 9-ish months the noise has not gotten worse, but it does happen more regularly. I'm guessing it is going to "bother" me pretty soon....

 

s-thing,
My car had a cold start noise that i too was almost willing to live with. I was lucky that my Service Rep heard it in April 2011. It wasnt as bad as in the winter bur you could still tell. He recommended changing the timing chain which brings a new group of parts when that wotk is done. Of course, i was still under warranty.

Over time, i was told that the condition does get worse. If you can get the work done now, i would. Are you still under warranty?

 

Here is a notorious startup noise:

POWER STEERING PUMP FAN

It can be intermittent, it is a chirp, or sounds like a bearing spalling, it sometimes also starts with the a/c compressor, and tends to cycle on with chages in outside temperature. (I have never fully pinpointed the logic of when it turns on)....... Seedy Technicians are famous for replacing your idler pulley which of course doesn't fix the issue but still costs you over $1,000.

It is a simple fix and find if you can get under your vehicle. It is literally between your two front tires. A couple bolts hold it on. If it is the culprit... you will know by simply feeling it vibrate and chirping. You might need to buy cheap ramp blocks so you can get (fit) under your car.

I took mine off and shook some dirt out of it, cleaned it, and spouted some lube on the bearing. It helped. It still makes a "little noise", but can know that it has not seized up.

This thing will eventually fail for everyone. The design is less than perfect.

 

I had a mechanic listen to my "chatter upon starting" yesterday. With just listening from outside the car, with the hood closed, he said sounded like a bearing in the starter going bad. A release bearing if I remember what he said correctly. They want actually troubleshoot it before ordering/replacing the starter as they said would be $700+ to change the starter.

As with others, this is just a chattering the 1st second or two the car ignition is turned on. Has nothing to do with the clutch (fully depressed), or driving away.

 

FINALLY!

I got the sound on my phone!

you can hear it just before the 4-second mark in the video. I started the car heard the noise and then shut the car off, started my phone and miraculously captured this elusive noise.

Hopefully someone will recognize it and I'll have a suggestion to take to the dealership before my extended warranty runs out...

http://youtu.be/UsU6Ni99Umg