Screaching starter noise in an automatic 320i

[Mike87]

I installed a new (rebuilt) SR441X starter in my sons 1980 320i automatic and it makes a terrible screaching noise when releasing the key after it starts.

The starter spins the motor very quickly and works well, but just makes a very loud screaching noise. I thought it was just because the flywheel is just a thin sheetmetal plate, but do not know.

Any ideas as to what this noise might be?

[pkbinplano]

check your fan belt. New starter spinning motor faster

[02Les]

The starter in Da Beater did that, so I changed it for the smaller lightweight starter.....still makes the metal grinding screech/noise while starting.

It's been doing it for over a year now; I've just got used to it.

[PatAllen]

i have a perfect rebuilded starter on my Automatic 02. It makes a nasty noise because of how the flywheel is made. It is worse since i upgraded it to the 4HP22.

Sounds like an old cavalier....doh !

its because there is no more meat like a heavy flywheel, its just a thin plate and act like a bell.

[Kpeters]

Is it tight? I can think of an alignment issue.

[Mike87]

i have a perfect rebuilded starter on my Automatic 02. It makes a nasty noise because of how the flywheel is made. It is worse since i upgraded it to the 4HP22.

Sounds like an old cavalier....doh !

its because there is no more meat like a heavy flywheel, its just a thin plate and act like a bell.

That is exactly what I thought it was too. That flexplate is just sheetmetal. I will check for alignment as well, but I don't think it will do much.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Mike

[Mike87]

I discovered the problem. Yesterday, the starter failed to turn the motor over, so it had to come out. Turns out that the shop who built the starter installed the wrong bendix gear on the starter so it did not mesh properly with the flywheel.

I installed an old starter temporarily and it works fine. Oh yea, no more screaching either. I will take this one back and have them put the correct gear on it.

Thanks for the help,

Mike