Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-08-2013, 06:28 AM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Northern Virginia & DC
Posts: 61
Loud Raddle noise on Start up...

Hello everyone,

I have a 1998 Boxster 2.5 and the ignition switch would get stuck like most do. This was one of the issues when I purchased the vehicle about 3 years ago. I replaced the ignition switch, therefore, the key no longer gets stuck in that position.

Only sometimes when the car is turned on, there is a loud grinding/raddle noise for about 2-3 seconds and then goes away. I have tried to see where it is coming and I believe its from the starter. As I mentioned before, it does not happen all the time.

What do you guys think it is, and how can I overcome it because it is annoying.

Thanx in advance for your help


Riz

OneOfaKind is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2013, 07:05 AM   #2
Mobile Porsche Surgeon
 
kashmir's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Plano Texas
Posts: 239
Welcome to the world of Boxster, they all do this it is all related to the poorly designed over head cam chains.
__________________
Mike's Specialty Porsche Service
Mobile Mechanic Specializing in Porsche and Select Automobiles

http://www.mikesspecialtyautomotiveservice.com/index.html
Early 1996 / 97 Boxster, 130 k, De snorkeled, IMS, Top Speed Headers.
kashmir is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2013, 07:11 AM   #3
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Winnipeg MB
Posts: 2,486
Some people have found that switching to Castrol Edge 5w40 has helped if they were previously using Mobil1 0w40.
__________________
'99 black 986
Mark_T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2013, 08:22 AM   #4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Frederick MD
Posts: 658
Quote:
Originally Posted by OneOfaKind View Post
Hello everyone,

I have a 1998 Boxster 2.5 and the ignition switch would get stuck like most do. This was one of the issues when I purchased the vehicle about 3 years ago. I replaced the ignition switch, therefore, the key no longer gets stuck in that position.

Only sometimes when the car is turned on, there is a loud grinding/raddle noise for about 2-3 seconds and then goes away. I have tried to see where it is coming and I believe its from the starter. As I mentioned before, it does not happen all the time.

What do you guys think it is, and how can I overcome it because it is annoying.

Thanx in advance for your help


Riz
That is the sound of your valve-train clattering briefly before the chain tensioners and valve lifters build pressure.

Some say that heavier oil will quiet them down. If quiet is the goal then they can have it. IMO, 0W is what is best for this, and just about any street engine. the difference in flow between 0W-30 and 5W-30 synthetic at cold start-up is significant. The difference at operating temp is nil...
shadrach74 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2013, 11:16 AM   #5
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
I've chased the start up clatter since I got my car a couple of years ago. Changed the 2 lower tensioners and tried all kinds of oil from 0-40 to 20-50 with no significant change. The only thing that reduced, but has not eliminated the rattle has been changing to Red Line 5-40.
__________________
Current car

2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black

Previous cars

1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
san rensho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2013, 12:33 PM   #6
Registered User
 
thom4782's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Foster City CA
Posts: 1,099
Picking up on your thought that the noise was starter related, I can think of two possibilities. One, the ignition switch is starting to fail again. Two, and perhaps more likely, the throwout bearing on the starter is not allowing the starter to disengage quickly enough.

When it happens, are the conditions similar. For example, is it a cold start on a cold day?
thom4782 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2013, 01:25 PM   #7
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Northern Virginia & DC
Posts: 61
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts but I have been using 0-40 Oil ever since owning the vehicle. Pretty sure the rattle is not from the oil used but from the starter.

Even after changing the ignition switch, the rattle was still there only on some start-ups.

Whether its cold or hot, the rattle seems to happen because something like the starter does not disengage as thom4782 mentioned.

I think I will have to look at the Starter. LOL

Thanks for the Quick responses guys.
OneOfaKind is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2013, 01:55 PM   #8
Mobile Porsche Surgeon
 
kashmir's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Plano Texas
Posts: 239
Can you record it at start up and post it?
__________________
Mike's Specialty Porsche Service
Mobile Mechanic Specializing in Porsche and Select Automobiles

http://www.mikesspecialtyautomotiveservice.com/index.html
Early 1996 / 97 Boxster, 130 k, De snorkeled, IMS, Top Speed Headers.
kashmir is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 07:45 PM   #9
Registered User
 
com3dorm3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 159
Interested on feedback too as I may have the same issue.
Here is a recording:
Boxster startup noise - YouTube
__________________
2000 Boxster S
com3dorm3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 08:39 PM   #10
I am my own mechanic....
 
Timco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 3,433
I was getting an intermittent start up squelch. It was the starter. New starter turns over twice as fast!!

Bendix spring. Starter does not pull back in on its own.
__________________
'04 Boxster S 50 Jahre 550 Spyder Anniversary Special Edition, 851 of 1953, 6-sp, IMS/RMS, GT Metallic silver, cocoa brown leather SOLD to member Broken Linkage.
'08 VW Touareg T-3 wife's car
'13 F150 Super Crew long bed 4x4 w/ Ego Boost
Timco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2013, 10:53 PM   #11
Custom User Title Here
 
particlewave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood
Posts: 6,163
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by com3dorm3 View Post
Interested on feedback too as I may have the same issue.
Here is a recording:
Boxster startup noise - YouTube
That's definitely the starter not disengaging fast enough.
__________________
https://youtube.com/@UnwindTimeVintageWatchMuseum
particlewave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2013, 05:05 AM   #12
recycledsixtie
 
recycledsixtie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Edmonton Canada
Posts: 824
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by particlewave View Post
That's definitely the starter not disengaging fast enough.
I have the same sound on after starting my 2001 Boxster base. I assumed that it was the cold weather affecting the starter. However it could be a permanent noise.
Is replacing the bendix starter spring an easy fix?
recycledsixtie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2013, 06:12 AM   #13
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Indianapolis, In.
Posts: 160
Mine does the same thing, and I like you have a 1998 2.5. Mine always does it while cold, but never once the engine is warm. The stealership and my go to mechanic have both told me it is a starter bendix issue...or something like that related to the starter. They both told me that Boxster starters almost never fail, but most will get this annoyance with time. Since you have a 1998 2.5, the greater Boxster ever produced, I would not worry too much about it.
__________________
1998 986 with ladder racks.
paintboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2013, 06:25 AM   #14
Registered User
 
com3dorm3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 159
Quote:
Originally Posted by particlewave View Post
That's definitely the starter not disengaging fast enough.
Are the effects of this isolated to the starter or is it impacting other things like the flywheel teeth?
__________________
2000 Boxster S
com3dorm3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2013, 06:51 AM   #15
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Indianapolis, In.
Posts: 160
Quote:
Originally Posted by com3dorm3 View Post
Are the effects of this isolated to the starter or is it impacting other things like the flywheel teeth?
Good question, but the dealership guy did not tell me I needed to fix it, and my other mechanic who does all the work on the car said it was nothing to worry about. Both could have told me replace and I would have, so maybe it IS ok to leave it alone...
__________________
1998 986 with ladder racks.
paintboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2013, 09:19 AM   #16
Custom User Title Here
 
particlewave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood
Posts: 6,163
Garage
This will cause wear on both the starter and flywheel teeth eventually.

If you can source a spring, starters are easy to rebuild. I would fix it...if nothing else, to save yourself the embarrassment of the loud noise
__________________
https://youtube.com/@UnwindTimeVintageWatchMuseum
particlewave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2013, 09:34 AM   #17
Registered User
 
com3dorm3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 159
Quote:
Originally Posted by particlewave View Post
This will cause wear on both the starter and flywheel teeth eventually.
If you can source a spring, starters are easy to rebuild. I would fix it...if nothing else, to save yourself the embarrassment of the loud noise
Agree. It should be easy, though not as easy as finding the slope of the line given the equation -7x+3y-11=0
__________________
2000 Boxster S
com3dorm3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2013, 09:53 AM   #18
Registered User
 
jaykay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: toronto
Posts: 2,668
Ahhh...+2.333

Is the sound while cranking the engine on the starter exclusively?
__________________
986 00S
jaykay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2013, 10:01 AM   #19
Custom User Title Here
 
particlewave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood
Posts: 6,163
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by com3dorm3 View Post
Agree. It should be easy, though not as easy as finding the slope of the line given the equation -7x+3y-11=0
Reverse the sign of x, divide by y... 7/3, 2 1/3, 2.3, etc.

Heck, even if you can't find the spring, pull the old one out and stretch it some to give it more spring. Not a permanent fix, but better than nothing.
__________________
https://youtube.com/@UnwindTimeVintageWatchMuseum
particlewave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2013, 10:06 AM   #20
Registered User
 
com3dorm3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 159
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaykay View Post
Ahhh...+2.333
Is the sound while cranking the engine on the starter exclusively?
Ah, good that you remembered to put "+". I've had points deducted for not including it, go figure
The sounds seems to be from one source only, but I've been wrong before.

__________________
2000 Boxster S
com3dorm3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page