Scratchy/Grinding Noise on Cold Start

[Curley5959]

Hi All,

I have a 2004 Gen 4 Liberty 3.0R Spec-B Manual. On cold start it has a scratchy/grinding noise occasionally. It has just been in for its major service (100k) and nothing was picked up.

From doing some research, it sounds like it could be a pulley bearing? Does this sound like something that could be causing this noise?

Has anyone had this same issue with their H6? It is hard to explain/put a name to.

I appreciate any help.

Thanks,
Aaron

[geematt]

I had an idler pulley bearing failure recently (On the front belt), but the noise was present most of the time and quickly deteriorated (1-2 days). If it's that it's a simple repair.
Sounds more like starter motor not disengaging ? Used to get that in my old Ford fours !

[patrickbateman]

Could it just be the belts slipping a tiny bit when you first start? Mine does this I believe. Worse on colder mornings.

[Curley5959]

Could it just be the belts slipping a tiny bit when you first start? Mine does this I believe. Worse on colder mornings.

Yes the more I think about it it could be the belt slipping slightly.

I took the Liberty (sorry... I couldn't help myself..) of taking a quick video of a cold start. It does it very very slightly in this video, not as bad as usual though. The car had been started this morning so it wasn't as bad.

[sheppo9]

A/C compressor kicking in.
Turn it off, turn the car off. Turn the car back on and see if it's still makes the noise.

[666]

A/C compressor kicking in.
Turn it off, turn the car off. Turn the car back on and see if it's still makes the noise.

+1 for above ^ It does sound like the AC compressor pully. I had one disintergrate last year on another car, made the same noise as yours but got worse very quickly.

Rob

[BillyCorgi]

You are going to get lots of ideas and suggestions.
Sounds like Alternator Bearing or AC Clutch bearing or AC Internal thrust bearing.

What you need is advice how to diagnose.

Take off the H6 engine cover.
Get your longest biggest screwdriver.
Stick the end of the handle against your ear.
Start placing the tip of the screwdriver on the metal parts of the engine that house bearings.
Like a stethoscope, you will track down the location of the source of the noise.

Good luck!

[Blake8828]

As mentioned by Geematt it sounds a lot like the starter not disengaging fast enough, my car does it all the time when its cold. I had my AC bearing go a while back and it was more of a grumble type noise and the AC clutch engaging is more of a sharp click/'snack' noise. Still could be the AC but the video does sound a heck of a lot like my car and its sticky starter. Would be great if you could upload a video of the noise lasting longer .

[Curley5959]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I have it booked in to Subaru next Wednesday to have it looked at, but the mechanic said it sounded like it could be the Starter Motor Bendix.

I will let you know how it goes.

[Curley5959]

Subaru Mechanic put it down to the Starter Bendix.

I also have another small issue related to Starting. Occasionally, well twice now, when I start the car, the Audio and Trip Meter do not work, which in actual fact is all Accessory components. This results in the Trip Meter flashing "ACC" constantly, until I switch the car off and turn it back on.

Until today, I thought this was a power issue, but when I was looking into the fuse today, I established that it is nothing to do with power, but the ignition switch/barrel. The key seems to be getting stuck slightly too far forward, resulting in the Accessory components not working, exactly like when you start the car it cuts these components so nothing blows.

So the solution to the Accessory components not working is to pull the key back slightly. I also noticed that the key is borderline making the starter sound (scratchy sound similar to that in the video), so I am guessing that both are related, and the cause of the starter sound is in actual fact a sticky ignition switch/barrel.

What is the best solution to this. Is it possible to lubricate the barrel without pulling out, or is it necessary to pull the barrel out and clean?