Brief rasp and rattle during start in cold weather: starter motor release issue?

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Feb 2, 2018 | 11:52 PM

#101

2015FITEX

Member

Joined: May 2015

Posts: 448

From: Vancouver , BC

i just get a brief rattle at startup.,,,,thought the wife wasn't letting go of the key..but shes no idiot.....seems more prevelant in cold..but live in vancouver so no so much.....DOESN'T continue ..if it continued id be worried, oil pressure should have built up ?

Mar 30, 2018 | 10:02 PM

#102

2015FITEX

Member

Joined: May 2015

Posts: 448

From: Vancouver , BC

got it again this morning, cranked it right up without giving it a Chace with
"key on"...got the rattle....before i thought it was the starter, but now im convinced its the VTEC.i guess....it seems way less starter ish...and ive seen some sh#t in my time...not alot...but some.. hmmmmm...what to do...warranty expires in 5 months

Mar 30, 2018 | 10:56 PM

#103

CommanderSlug

Member

Joined: Jul 2015

Posts: 317

From: Toronto

Looks like a 3 hr job:
http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/p...nu/A16-088.PDF

Apr 12, 2018 | 09:30 AM

#104

Gds1958

New Member

Joined: Mar 2015

Posts: 3

From: Connecticut

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epic

I've been loving my '15 LX since August when I bought it.

All good, with one exception, as follows: in subfreezing weather, starting from dead cold, I get a brief rasping/rattling noise after the engine catches. It's similar to the sound I got from older cars when I accidentally held the ignition "on" too long, when the engine catches before the starter motor is completely released.

My Fit's engine starts immediately, and I get off the key instantly, but I still get this disconcerting rasp right after the engine catches. It only happens when the engine is dead cold, in cold temperatures.

Anybody else experience this? Worry, or live with it? Call the dealer for a warranty issue? (Computer reprogramming?)

Thanks for any replies. A minor point on an almost-perfect-otherwise car.

I had the same problem which got worse after about 6 or 8 months. Recently turning the key did "nothing" first try. Then everything as normal. From looking at what everyone else seems to be doing at 43,000 miles with the same problem, i changed the starter. Solved the problem. The rumble "after" the car started and the intermittent start. I wasn't sure at first if this was going to be the resolve, so I bought a used starter, (since honda wanted $600. just for the part $400 to install ??)) for $60.00 and went in. It was difficult, but not as difficult as expected. Directly in front of engine, just below a large wiring harness. unplugging the snaps, (about 4) was difficult because of small space. Moving this gave access to the starter from above. You need to remove the splash guard from the bottom. Some access is needed from below as well.
So for $60.00 and about 2 1/2 hours of my time, i fixed it. Now, the only thing is that its a used starter. I am having the bad one rebuilt, (not doing it myself) i assume i am most likely going to need it since the good one was not new or rebuilt. Thats okay, I still saved a lot of money, and didn't have to give any of it to Honda..