Does any one know what this is?

[indigoblue73]

Hi Guys, I'm new to the forum so hello to all!
I need help with the following (if possible please?)
When starting my 1999 C4 996 after being left out at the station all day I get a squealing sound just after the engine fires (This doesn’t happen if the car is left in the garage)… This has happened consistently now over the last two days and it sounds like a slipping belt. If you stop the car and then start it again the sound doesn’t happen.
I also get a squealing sound when reversing under load (up hill) with full lock

I recorded a sample of the squeal which you can get here:

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~mhyou

If anyone has any ideas, please share.

PS I've tried the usual spray of WD40 on the belt without ahy success.

[magic torch]

Mine did exactly that, was a belt, can't remember which one, I'll look it up.

Mine also used to squeek on full lock when revesing uphill into my garage. Two OPCs told me "they all do that sir".

[BliarOut]

Hard to tell from that clip but it sounds a little like when my Boxster had a sticking starter motor...

[indigoblue73]

Thanks so far... Anyone else come across this?
If it is the starter motor, is it an easy job? Hopefully it should be covered under warranty.

[indigoblue73]

magic torch, can you let me know what work was done in the end when you get a chance... thanks.
Did it only happen when the car was standing outside for awhile?

[slippydiff]

Have you got a cat ? if you have, I'd suggest you get it down to the vets pronto as it's either being sick or got furballs !!

But seriously, it sounds like the pre-engaged starter is briefly sticking in mesh with the ring gear(ooo er missus) on the flywheel.

It'll most likely last for ages without complaint (it would get on MY nerves mind)
Have you thought about turning your stereo up louder whenever you start the car

[BliarOut]

You can't have a Porsche squeal on startup... What would the proles think?

[indigoblue73]

Thanks SlippyDiff... I've only just bought the car (2 weeks ago from Northway) so I#m not willing to live with the noise.
Ray (at Northway) should hopefully put me right, I just wanted to find out as much as I could before going there... Will changing the part concerned be a big job?

[slippydiff]

indigoblue73 said:

Thanks SlippyDiff... I've only just bought the car (2 weeks ago from Northway) so I#m not willing to live with the noise.
Ray (at Northway) should hopefully put me right, I just wanted to find out as much as I could before going there... Will changing the part concerned be a big job?

Might just be a remove the starter motor and clean up with brake cleaner job. The problem is what's making it stick. (clue, it's quite often oil contamination, and we all know where oil comes from in these engines don't we kids ?..........................
With a bit of luck though, it will just be a "sticky" starter
Hope you get it sorted (it shouldn't be a problem if you've only has it a couple of weeks)

Edited by slippydiff on Wednesday 21st March 23:51

[sportsandclassic]

As slippy said.... there will be a reason why its doing this and the likely cause is that there is clutch dust and oil stuck to the end of it like a paste and causing it to jam up...a combination of a clutch that has been used like they all have...and RMS weep.

Removing a starter motor on a 996 is a fun job..book time is 1.5 hours.

hope this helps.

Nice idea about recording the noise i like that...should get more of my customers to do that !

Mike

sports and classic ltd

[Steve_M]

Yep I had the same squeal on my 996 C4, needed a new starter motor. 1.5 hrs book time at OPC. Took them 3 hrs to do it but could only charge me 1.5hrs labour as that's what was on the work order

[speedlimit]

Well remember that 1.5 hours of OPC time costs the same as 3 hours of real time

[DucatiGary]

I had a similiar noise on mine that happend occasionally then after OPC changed the alternator belt it happend everytime.

I was told they all do that by OPC and soovy on here said his started doing the same around the same time, so I thought nothing of it.

2 weeks later im driving down the road and notice plooms of smoke bellowing out the back end.. .. .. ..

pulled over, checked the engine and there was a right mess going on under there.

had it towed to a local specialist instead of the OPC and it turned out opc had not fitted the alternator on propperly when they changed the belt thus after the two weeks the alternator had been launched through 2 water pipes and the oil filler tube (and that had only been replaced 2 weeks before at the OPC) and the belt turned into a spagetti mess at the back end and was smoking sizzling etc.

anyways.

id take it to a specialist and get it checked out.

ETA the whole mess cost just short of a grand at mates rates hourly charge and OPC wanted nothing to do with it.

Edited by DucatiGary on Thursday 22 March 09:29

[indigoblue73]

Sounds like you had a right nightmare DucatiGary! I've spoken to Ray at Northway and he's going to sort it out (he came up with the same conclusion of gunk in the starter-motor)... He's going to remove it and clean it plus change any belts that need doing at the sametime...
TBH, I wouldn't go anywhere near an OPC with an out of Porsche warranty car as I don't believe this is the most cost effective route (and I really don't trust them... any of them).

[magic torch]

Bit late, and sounds like it'll be sorted.

Strange that other people are saying it's the starter motor, but I'm no techie. My car had exactly the same noise. The poly v belt was replaced and the rollers cleaned. Part number P996.102.151.66. Never heard it again.

[henry-f]

Definately the starter motor on recoil.

Anything to do with the polyrib belt (alternator belt) will tend to be engine speed dependant and will be more likely to slip (which is what makes it squeal) if you load up the things it drives (alternator by switching on headlamp main beam, a/c by turning it on etc). The belts also tend to slip more first thing when they have moisture on the driving pulleys, you can rev the engine to clear the squeal by making the pulley grip the belt. In this instance you aren`t clearing the squeal by reving the engine it clears it`s self as the starter recoils.

An easy cure and nothing life threatening so don`t lose sleep over it.

Henry

Edited by henry-f on Thursday 22 March 17:57