Start Up ?

[whistonian]

My car has been garaged fo the past 2 weeks whilst i have been away. When i started it up this morning there was a loud screeching noise,I immediately turned off waited a few minutes then tried
again but the same thing happened.However the third time I started it ,it purred like a kitten. Can anyone explain what was happening.?

[KJN]

Loud screeching, hard to diagnose plus need to know make of car but two things come to mind, water pump or a drive belt slipping.

[whistonian]

Thanks kjn.my car is a 2007 Fiat Grand Punto I have had from new,only done 27500 miles.

[Canary42]

Sounds like starter motor cog not engaging to my amateur ear. The two failed attempts jogging it out of the jam.

P.S. I know very little abour cars ;-)

[spathiphyllum]

You've found you're issue... You said it was a fiat? ;) ;)


Is it a diesel? Cold can do that to cars, especially diesels.

[whistonian]

Your suggestion seems reasonable Canary. No not a diesel Spath.I guess your not a fan of Fiats!!

[bhg481]

KJN has probably sussed it with slipping drive belt. Cars have pre-engaged starter motors nowadays; in any case "screeching" wouldn't define the noise it would make if it didn't engage.
I don't see why a diesel should be any more likely to make such a noise than any other engine.

[johnk]

Sounds like a cold stiff belt slipping.

[TonyV]

Sounds like a belt slipping - maybe needs retentioning

[whistonian]

Cheers Tony,I will have the belt checked.

[bhg481]

Lots of cars have automatic belt-tensioners nowadays (I don't know about your particular car), so it could be a problem with that or maybe the belt has stiffened with age and needs replacing (some things are changed on age, not miles). I'd get it checked out as soon as possible before calamity strikes.