Went to check on my brother's car last night because the noise at the engine at start up has gotten extremely worse. What was a minor rattle at start up has progressed into a extremely loud rattle (almost sounds like an anti-aircraft gun).

Would that be a problem with the flywheel or flex plate?

 

Is it louder from the front or rear of the engine? I highly doubt tensioners, before some peple come screaming in. 03 will have the correct new tensioners.

 

+1 with Daim. Where is the noise coming from? Get a mechanic stethoscope or a long screwdriver to the ear and track down a location. If it is most pronounced at the rear lower section of the engine then I would vote for Flex-Plate bolts coming loose or flex plate separating from the ring gear.
Press the accelerator all the way to the floor and then try turning the engine over and listening to the bell housing. All the way to the floor will shut off fuel and allow the engine to just crank over but not start. Don't do it for an extended period as you will damage the starter, should be no problem for a couple minutes rotation.

 

Well, thinking it was the flywheel I sent my brother to a shop while I was out of town. The show diagnosed it as a "starter armature" grinding with the flywheel on start. Replaced the starter at $737.75.

Then they proceeded to nickle and dime him to $3,822.16. Ouch!

 

That does NOT sound like 'nickles and dimes', Sounds like Franklins and Grants!!


bob