Starter Question

[achillies]

My 03S has started to do a weird thing. When I 1st start the car the car starts fine but there is a brief moment when the starter seems to continue to spin after the engine has started. just a little bit. This only happens on the 1st start of the day...never after that until is has sat overnight. Starter going bad....thoughts

Thanks
Bob

[jrgill]

I have the same issue and plan to do the following: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ9qnnf2kWU

[thstone]

The starter solenoid is starting to fail. You can replace the starter or just replace the solenoid if you're willing to tear it down.

[spinedoc]

Same issue can plague VW's.....

Need to replace the starter. I'm doing mine in the next few weeks when I have a few hours to do so.

FWIW, PelicanParts has a good deal on rebuilt starters.

Pelican Parts - European Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche • BMW • Mercedes • Volkswagen • Audi • Saab • Volvo • MINI

Note that one of them is for a manual transmission...274.50, while the other, cheaper one is for an automatic transmission...228.00.

Still beats a new one that costs 1100.00

Mike

[BirdDog]

Sounds like your Bendix gear isn't retracting fast enough (most likely gummed up).

I'd watch the video that jrgill posted a link to, and do what the guy in the video did (took it apart, cleaned it, re-lubed and then put it back together).

My thoughts go like this:

If the solenoid was failing it would grind at the start because the solenoid is an electromagnet. If it was failing it wouldn't have the power to push the Bendix out.

Since the noise you are hearing is at the end of the start, it means the Bendix isn't being retracted quickly enough (it probably sounds like a terrifying grinding noise). Either the spring that pulls it back is broken (could happen, but very unlikely) or something is preventing it from coming back fast enough (like a gummed up shaft).

Easy solution is to just replace the starter.

The less expensive (practically free) solution is do what's in the video.

[Jojo]

I once had this issue. I dismantled the starter and noticed that the grease was old and became gummy. Did a good clean and put new fresh grease, problem solved. It used to do it mostly in winter when cold. Then once warm it used to work normal. This happened about 3years ago and all is fine since then.
Maybe you should check this out first.
My 2 cents.

[achillies]

Thanks for the info...was pretty sure the bendix wasnt returning.