YACT: Weird noises when I start my car

[TC2181]

I have a 99 Nissan Sentra. When I start it up , it makes an odd noise. Kind of like its choking, then it starts. This is more prevelant when its cold out. Also, right when it first starts, you can hear this "banging" sound coming from the engine..like a rattling, then it goes away for a few seconds. I am completely ignorant when it comes to cars, so feel free to say whatever. Help/advice would be appreciated though. Thanks!

 

[LSUfan]

Originally posted by: TC2181
I am completely ignorant when it comes to cars, so feel free to say whatever.

bring it to a mechanic

 

[NutBucket]

Check your oil.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Check your oil.

lol, i would laugh if that was the cause of the sounds...

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: TC2181
I have a 99 Nissan Sentra. When I start it up , it makes an odd noise. Kind of like its choking, then it starts. This is more prevelant when its cold out. Also, right when it first starts, you can hear this "banging" sound coming from the engine..like a rattling, then it goes away for a few seconds. I am completely ignorant when it comes to cars, so feel free to say whatever. Help/advice would be appreciated though. Thanks!

if its cold out (like -10C), then don't worry about it. Its normal for most cars to make noises upon start up in cold weather.

Our Camry squeals for the first few seconds during start up in the cold, and proceeds to idle quiet loudly for hte first minute or so till it slowly gets to normal operating temperatures.

Read this to see how other cars behave in the cold
Read this link to see what exactly causes engines to behave oddly in the cold

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

you're not missing your house cat are you?

 

[Regs]

Wow, that doesnt sound good. Car's in park, and you hear the rattle? I hope you change/check your oil once in awhile. Sounds like you blew a Cam shaft. If it is the engine itself, then your car wouldnt last much longer. But if you have been hearing this over a long period of time, could be a Cam. And just so you know, if you blew or managed to pop a spring in the Camshaft, you might as well save up for a new car. Those things are thousands to replace, especially on a import.

 

[Viperoni]

Regs, it could just be the oil taking it's time to circulate...

 

[TC2181]

Originally posted by: Regs
Wow, that doesnt sound good. Car's in park, and you hear the rattle? I hope you change/check your oil once in awhile. Sounds like you blew a Cam shaft. If it is the engine itself, then your car wouldnt last much longer. But if you have been hearing this over a long period of time, could be a Cam.

I check my oil pretty often, and always get it changed every 3k miles. Everything works fine. It just happens the first few seconds.

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: TC2181

Originally posted by: Regs
Wow, that doesnt sound good. Car's in park, and you hear the rattle? I hope you change/check your oil once in awhile. Sounds like you blew a Cam shaft. If it is the engine itself, then your car wouldnt last much longer. But if you have been hearing this over a long period of time, could be a Cam.

I check my oil pretty often, and always get it changed every 3k miles. Everything works fine. It just happens the first few seconds.

Only the first few seconds? Nah, then I wouldn't worry to much. However I don't remember that ever happening to my toyota or honda. Might just be your starter engaging your flywheel.

 

[Quixfire]

Used a better oil filter next time. Most cheap oil filter don't have an anti-drain back valve in them. Most likely the oil is draining back out of the system and the rattle you hear is the lifters loose against the rocker because they are out of oil.

 

[StageLeft]

Good link, indian. I get cold just reading about that stuff!

 

Wow, that doesnt sound good. Car's in park, and you hear the rattle? I hope you change/check your oil once in awhile. Sounds like you blew a Cam shaft. If it is the engine itself, then your car wouldnt last much longer. But if you have been hearing this over a long period of time, could be a Cam. And just so you know, if you blew or managed to pop a spring in the Camshaft, you might as well save up for a new car. Those things are thousands to replace, especially on a import.

What the hell are you talking about

Blow a camshaft ?

Spring in a camshaft ?

What the hell is that ?

The banging noise you hear is most like oil starvation at cold start up from no oil pressure, if it,s a clicking noise, then it;s the lifters tapping, banging indicates crank or con rod bearings coming into contact with the crank.

Change your oil to 5W-30W for cold winter operation.
The"choking" as you call iks is most likely a faulty cold start injector.