Engine Problems, not sure what though

[tjpete04]

Ok heres the deal; I gotta 97' L, when i turn the key nothing happens (literally) when i continue to turn the key it eventually starts, but it doesn't have that usual beautiful sound (you know what i'm talkin about), infact its got a loud whisling to it like its still trying to start.
Then when i turn it off, the egine stops but that whisling continues and i can't get it to stop. So i turn the egnition again and it starts with that whisling again, i start driving in 2nd and when i downshift to 1st i here something snap and then everything is back to sounding well, back to normal. Its at about 151 thousandmiles and i was wondering if anyone has experienced the same problems or knows the problem.

thanks for taking your time and reading this.

Peace Out

[Wiscon_Mark]

well, the whistling sounds like the vaccum leak of an intake or something like it, but I don't know about the hard starting...

Check the basics like plugwires, make sure the MAF is plugged in, tighten the battery terminals, it could be something simple like that...

Really weird though.

[shazapple]

starter problems perhaps?

[scottzg]

kind of a stab in the dark, but i'd unbolt the starter and wiggle it, and bolt it back in place.

if you have a manual, see what happens when you push start it.

[tjpete04]

now my cars making a knocking noise everytime i accelerate. It sounds like its comming from the passenger side engine compartment.

[badbasser98]

Does it go away (or somewhat go away) after the engine has warmed up?

[Wiscon_Mark]

Does it go away (or somewhat go away) after the engine has warmed up?

if this is the case, its not a big deal.

Mine does that too, but my problem is a loose heatshield on the headers :?

I gotta get that fixed.

[tjpete04]

i don't know i'll get back to ya on that one, my cars in the shop right now for hopefully just a new starter.

[tjpete04]

yup it was the starter. Tires Plus is charging me $265 to replace the starter, am i being ripped off?

[pdawg]

I just got the starter replaced in the wifes 97 OB. Paid 60 for used starter off ebay and $65 to install. Had the same symptoms you had. All better now.

[tjpete04]

how many miles you got on yours?

[Huffer]

Taken from the poll thread on mileage:


Just turner 60000 yesterday morning. Wifes 97 OB 105000.