VW Golf Start with Grinding Noise

[cavemanbruce]

My wifes car has made that sound for years,not going to replace the starter over something like that. Saw a newish Porsche the other day and that made the same noise ;)

[Kbrusky15]

starter. :P

[MrTopflight29]

thats the same noise I get when i start my jetta. I was thinking it could be the starter. Thanks!!!

[montesanick]

its fine it isnt going to damage anything, in between the starter motor and where it bolts to the gear box the is a few small gears , like a small mini gearbox i surpose, and they gear the starter motor down to provide more torque to turn the engine over, these gear's sometimes become dry, ( very common on vw ).

to overcome this the starter motor needs removing and the 3 or 4 gears just need a clean and re grease, you do not need a new starter motor , but may be told this by a garage , dom :D

[matt452]

@montesanick So just to clarify, this noise won't cause any other damage to the engine? Maybe kill the starter someday but the rest of the engine will be fine?

[juliahula09]

needs a new starter. finally got it fixed. not cheap tho :/

[forg1vr]

@juliahula09 How much was it? I'm having the same issue on my 2000 GTI, has been going on for a while and the screeching is a lot longer and louder (usually). 

[goianoboy]

y does it do that? mine does the same noise...