Hello Honda Forum,

My Mother in Law's Honda CRV makes this rattling sound when starting the car. It happens maybe once or twice a month when she starts it.
Here is a video that you can hear the noise. https://photos.app.goo.gl/azwY2ZypFfjQBqqu6

Any suggestions on what causes this? Weather is around 65 degrees outside and this has been happening for years.

Thanks
~Fern

 

welcome to the forum. It almost sounds like the starter solenoid is hanging up and the starter gear is clashing with the fly wheel. if you can get a hold of a mechanic's stethoscope and place one end on the starter solenoid or starter to listen for that noise. When starting the engine, try just turning the key and let it go quick, not keeping the key turned on after it actually is running. Is the car under warranty. 3 yr, 36k miles.

 

Thanks for the information. Since it happens rarely, about once or twice a month, is it something that could damage the car? The car is no longer under warranty, It's around 5 years old with about 35k miles on it. I'll have to see how to proceed.

thanks

 

if it is the solenoid hanging up a bit, it will just ware the teeth on the starter gear and on the fly wheel. if there is a way to remove the flywheel pan or a panel to view the fly wheel, you can see if the starter gear and the fly wheel are clashing each other by the shine on the fly wheel teeth(upper part of the teeth). if the teeth on the fly wheel is dull rust color, it is not the starter gear noise. it may be something else. easy check. get your self a hold of a factory service/repair manual. it will help you a lot to save money and to trouble shoot the car for just about anything.

 

Sounds like a starter solenoid issue, not engaging properly.