Crackling sound on cold startup?

[Nacho98]

I've noticed this here and there for the past few weeks--when I start the car, particularly on cold start up--though not always--I get a totally random sound for a couple seconds that the best I can describe is like a crackling sound. Totally odd, and I've never heard it from any other car. Car runs fine, starts fine, doesn't affect anything.

What could this be?

 

[red95r]

Its usually best to post a vid or at least an audio clip of the sound. Someone may not here it as a crackle and could identify it faster. Which part of car is it coming from?

 

[Nacho98]

Yeah I tried to but no dice--didn't do it just now when I tried recording it.

It sounds like it's coming from under the hood, just under the hood somewhere around the top of the engine.

 

[Twista]

Its cold. A lot of cars make noises on a cold cold startup in cold weather.
Change the oil and filter and see if it goes away. My 95 makes a weird sound on startup then goes away once the oil starts moving.

 

[Nacho98]

Nah it's not that cold, it's like 45 out. It did it before the last oil change I did recently.

 

[Nacho98]

Well I got a video this morning but the worthless flickr app wont let me link it, wtf. Will upload later.

I'm at the dealer now getting a few things taken care of:

-oil change
-fog burned out the other night so getting both replaced
-rearview mirror popped off, they are gonna look at it
-brake light was coming on under hard stops, fluid was low but all hoses are good and no leaks so no problem there
-ebrake cables will run $640 (ouch) but cant do them today, not in stock
-Showed the techs the video of the crackling, weren't sure but thought it may be lack of oil on the rockers right at startup--found crank seal leaking which I have had an oil consumption issue so this should take care of that...wonder if this may be the issue with the crackling, just low oil due to a leaky seal.

 

[joekd]

Wait a minute, you pay the dealer for things like oil changes and fog light replacement?

Are you the son of royalty or something throwing away money like that?

 

[Nacho98]

No but it's winter in Minneapolis (albeit super mild) and I live in an apartment so I don't have space nor tools at my disposal.

That and the older I get, the more I hate working on cars, especially filthy ass oil changes or anything under the car (which is ususlly everything).

That and I kinda suck at mechanical things. Engineer brain, pansy hands for anything other than detailing.

 

[Twista]

delete

 

[Rice_slayer]

Changing a foglight bulb on an SN95 is literally a 2 minute job if that and we charge .2 (10 mins labour) to do it lol. Probably just a lack of oil circulation or excessive clearances in valvetrain, my boss' 04 f150 sounds like a diesel if we use an oil thinner than 10w30. Man, if you had to start my escape on a -40 day, you would die, the tranny SCREAMS and whines on start up haha.

 

[Steve-Oh]

It's most likely just these guys rummaging around in your engine bay.... Wouldn't worry a whole lot.

 

[Nacho98]

Vid: [video]http://www.flickr.com/photos/aarontdenk/6817215737/in/photostream[/video]

 

[Twista]

Starter disengaging? I dont know crap about cars but im guessing something with the starter.
Broken teeth on the starter or the flywheel should be my uneducated guess??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8tsrCeuDvg

 

[Musturd]

Sounds kinda like ur timing chains what's the milage on the car . Sounds like there rattling a little on start up my car used to do that too .

 

[Nacho98]

85k miles.

 

[Nacho98]

Welp, it's not a low oil issue. Just started the car after sitting all night, same crackling. Damnit.

 

[Musturd]

I think the timing chain tensioners are wearing out and it's chain slap... Only because I have to do this on a regular basis

 

[Nacho98]

The thought had crossed my mind and the techs mentioned it too but thought it was too early for that. What would I be looking at dollar wise for that?

 

[Musturd]

It's pretty big job.. My guess around 500 with new guides and tensioners and chains... If it is the what I think it can get so bad I've had to replace the timing cover on a few cars... Alot of the time metal shavings block the oil pick up and you start to get the dreaded knock knock ... I just drop the k member normally now when I do it takes me no time

 

[SRT Handz]

NO WAY That sound is timing chains. Timing chains on 4.6 motors dont make that noise.

I know this sound VERY well.

The sound is your starter not disengaging after start-up. so when the motor starts up, its spinning the starter teeth on the Flywheel or Flexplate before the starter disengages.

This sound started to happen to me right before my starter began to die. Starters dont last forever. I picked up a rebuilt OEM unit from the parts store and installed it. Now i dont have that sound anymore AND my car sounds like brand new when it starts up. Mustang guys always ask why way my car sounds so new on start-up, its cause the new starter lol.

I am willing to bet $20 its the starter.