Nasty grinding noise on engine start up

[ollieallen]

Only happened a few times so far, but when i start the car occasionally it'll make a really horrible grinding noise on ignition. Always when the engine's cold.

Possibly a starter motor issue? Or maybe something more serious? The car's only on 24k miles so it's not something I want to be hearing!

 

[singlespeed]

Starter motor staying engaged?

Someone mentioned something a few months ago but I don't recall the outcome

 

[lgonzalez]

Starter motor staying engaged?

That's my initial thought as well.

Does the grinding noise go away after a second or so after start up?

 

[user 980]

engine-gearbox-exhaust-air-intake-system/help-engine-problems-t10155.html

It was me, and it hasn't done it since! It did it on two occasions and when it did it was awful. Starter motor seemed to be at fault as Neil mentioned so the plan was to change that but the issue has never resurfaced

 

[user 980]

And mine didn't go away after a few seconds, I had to turn it off to get the noise to stop

 

[ollieallen]

That's my initial thought as well.

Does the grinding noise go away after a second or so after start up?

Yeah it went away after about a second. Just scared me because it was nasty.

My first thought was starter motor because I've had it happen in cars before, although that was after about 90k miles :lol:

 

[ollieallen]

I'll keep an ear out. If it happens more than say, 5 times altogether I'll think about the starter motor replacement. But for now I'll leave it!

 

[Scottish133]

Hi did anyone find what the problem was with this issue as mine has started doing this aswell any help would be appreciated

 

[Renault tech]

Suspect camshaft dephaser

 

[PeteWilko]

My 2010 car has only done 19,000 miles from new and makes a sort of grinding noise on start up if its not been run for a few days.

I just put it down to the oil gradually sinking down to the sump and the top end of the engine dry running for a second or two until the pressure builds up and re-coats the moving parts again. I hope I'm not wrong!!

 

[Renault tech]

Yes that's classic dephaser symptoms

 

[PeteWilko]

Yes that's classic dephaser symptoms

I think you may be right. I've typed in camshaft dephaser on youtube and most of the videos that popped up are relating to Renault twin cam engines the same or very similar to RS Twingo, so I'm guessing it must be a pretty common fault. Do any of you know how much it is likely to cost to have this fixed? (I would imagine that it would make good sense to replace the cambelt and pully's at the same time)

 

[PeteWilko]

UPDATE- I spoke to an engine specialist mechanic today and he told me that the Renault VVT system is a cheap version of the bomb proof Honda VTec system, much less complex, but unfortunately, much less reliable too.

He went on to say that the variable valve timing is actuated by high pressure oil being forced into the camshaft dephaser mechanism that lives inside the top cambelt pully on the inlet cam end. He said Renault cocked up with the design and possisioning of the oil feed grooves, allowing one of them to point downwards when the engine is not running. This, eventually allows the oil inside to drain away and then the engine sounds like crap on start up until the oil recirculates again.

He was pretty sure that the dephaser had been redesigned by Renault, and that a modified version was now available that could iliminate the oil drain away problem. He said he would look into it and get back to me tomorrow. (Watch this space)

 

[PeteWilko]

I've been quoted £540 for a full service to include replacement of the camshaft dephaser gear, cam belt, new pully's, and a new water pump, which sounds quite steep, but my friendly local Renault dealership wanted to charge me almost a grand for the same work. Can you guess which one I'm going with?