Short metallic sound while cranking

[JohnZ]

Hi there! I wish to share with you a strange little noise that my car does sometimes while firing up! I think it comes from the starter motor, which is a new unit from DeloreanGo by the way! The situation is this: even before replacing the starter, I would sometimes hear a metallic sound... like a slap, or like a metal thing hitting on another metallic thing!

This cute little sound doesn't interfere with the starting procedure, and also is there from time to time! I tried to take a video, if you listen closely you can hear it at the end of the cranking operation, right before the engine starts! I also put a "here!" text at the exact moment! This YouTube thing is very versatile :)

It is not something that worries me, because ultimately the car always fires up nicely, and maybe it's just a normal noise from the starter motor, or maybe it's just the sound of the two cogs "mating"... I don't know, but I am sure that you also hear it from time to time!


https://youtube.com/shorts/YCX3dGXlYhg?is=8ZnjOrYCpiGpgXEM

[Bitsyncmaster]

The solenoid can make a slapping sound when it locks in or releases. It really only stops at the end of it's travel by it hitting metal.

[JohnZ]

Indeed my theory was that the noise was produced by the pinion simply returning to its default position after the engine had started... But sometimes this noise is very noticeable, and most of the time I can't hear it!

Maybe it is there all the time, but it is somehow masked by other noises :)

By the way, I asked this question just as a matter of curiosity, because as I said... The system works well every time! And the new starter is a must! :)

[dn010]

I can't really tell if it is a starter noise or engine noise. Curious if you have this plate installed:
https://store.classicdmc.com/101074-starter-plate.html

[JohnZ]

To be honest I can't really tell now if that plate is in place! What would its purpose be?

Next time I go under the car, in about a month or so, I will check it out! Anyway, on that particular noise... I think it is always there, but sometimes it's way louder and sometimes it's masked under other noises! That's my feeling :)

But as I said... I can't figure out if it is normal, and also it certainly does not interfere with the ignition procedure!

[dn010]

The plate acts as a spacer between the starter and the bellhousing. So you may get some noises without it, at least I did.