'95 850 Turbo Start Noise

Oddbob · Post by **Oddbob** » 16 Oct 2012, 21:26

Hey all,

I went out to crank my 850 Sunday and when I did this awful grinding/belt squealing noise occurred. It happened for maybe 5 or 6 seconds after the car was running, and that's all - not when the car was being driven (cold or hot). It did not happen Monday or this morning, but when I just went for food it did it again, only this time when I turned the key the car would not initially start. It waited a second, then cranked up, and then made the noise.

I haven't tested to see whether it occurs when the engine is warmed up. I have checked the tension on the serpentine belt and it is fine. Lately I have been gradually swapping out the old transmission fluid and replacing it with Dex-III, though I don't think that would have this effect.

Again the sound resembles gears being spun faster than they should be spinning, and a horrible belt squealing. I'm thinking starter or something related to how it functions.

Post by **precopster** » 17 Oct 2012, 05:16

It COULD be the starter pinion not returning back quickly enough after cranking. The solenoid gets gummed up and the pinion spins around at high speed while catching on the ring gear.

To be certain it's not from the accessory belt drive area you could remove that belt and try starting without it when the engine's cold. No harm will come as long as you don't drive.

Post by **jblackburn** » 17 Oct 2012, 06:58

+1; sounds like when the starter bendix went bad on my Honda.

Oddbob · Post by **Oddbob** » 17 Oct 2012, 14:48

Update:

I haven't looked into it, but when I drove to get breakfast this morning it did the noise. About an hour ago I set off to run some errands, and the noise happened, but while I was running errands the noise never happened, nor the issue with the key not cranking the car.

I'll have to take the belt off at work as I don't have the tools at home, but it appears the problems only happen when the car is cold.

Post by **m491** » 18 Oct 2012, 18:49

My turbo makes the same noise only when it is colder. With fall setting in the car once again is doing the same noise. I had a dealer tech oil the Idler bearing as he said that can sometimes cause the squeal. But it did not stop the squeal in my case.

I am curious as to how the starter can be making this noose and if it is would the starter be about ready to fail?

Post by **jreed** » 19 Oct 2012, 04:39

My turbo makes the "ghostly moan" on startup when cold. I have never heard of oiling the idler bearing--sounds interesting. Where is that and how do you oil it?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 19 Oct 2012, 13:15

jreed wrote:My turbo makes the "ghostly moan" on startup when cold. I have never heard of oiling the idler bearing--sounds interesting. Where is that and how do you oil it?

The "ghostly moan" is the oil thermostat going bad. I don't think it hurts anything but it sounds awful. On the idler and tensioner bearings I just replace them when they go bad, they are sealed bearings and you really can't oil them and expect things to last very long.

...Lee

Post by **jblackburn** » 19 Oct 2012, 17:34

They had a thread about this on Volvospeed a while ago. Turned out to actually be the oil thermostat.

It's just one of those weird Volvo noises you learn to live with. Makes for conversation with new friends

Oddbob · Post by **Oddbob** » 02 Nov 2012, 20:03

So this means I should probably invest in a timing belt replacement? Or is that referring to the "ghostly" noise?

Sorry to not reply for a few weeks - been real busy and the noise hasn't occurred lately.

Edit: the pulleys going bad doesn't explain why the key sometimes fails to start the car right away...