jimbob

Getting a horrid noise occasionally as soon as the engine fires from cold. Sounds like when you accidentally use the starter motor with the engine already running.
I'm not keeping the starter button pressed for too long I don't think...any ideas?

S2kSi

Could be your air pump kicking in.

There's an auxiliary air pump that kicks in for approx 30 secs or so whenever you start the engine from cold and feeds fresh air into the exhaust manifold to help get the catalytic converter up to temperature a bit quicker.

I know all this because I just had mine fail on me, and I first noticed it with a grinding/whining noise when you first start the engine. Eventually I got the engine warning light on the dash, took it to my local Honda dealer and they diagnosed it as the pump.

If it is this, it's a warranty item (which is handy because the pump costs

kevster25

mine does the same! I don't think it is the pump although that is what my dealer said to me also. It is the starter motor cause its exactly the same noise as if you press the botton with the engine running.

For some reason some times it doesn't disconnect when the engine starts every time. (normally when cold)

jimbob

I only had a new air pump about 8 months ago so I hope it's not that again!! Sounds like Kevster could be right - is that bad for the starter motor?

alex.stanley

I don't know much about starter motors, but if it's making noises while the engine is running then it can't be good for it, can it?!