ive searched for this but cannot seem to find anything...since its gotten cold my car has been "grinding" on startup. only the first startup in the morning though. my battery went out right before it got cold so i have a brand new interstate battery. I thought maybe the cold was killing the battery, so i charged it to 14.4volts, and still get the grinding on cold startup...i was reading on another forum for a different type of car that it could possibly be the "timing chain tensioner" that needs to be tighten...does this apply to our cars?? I have a 2001 Pontiac Bonneville SE 200,500 miles...my car runs great i want to prevent a bigger problem now...pls help!

your starter is probably getting cruddy, or the gear is getting beat up.if you havent replaced it nows probably a good time.

I agree, pull the starter and inspect teh gear. Willing to bet it'* worn.

Thanks guys, Sry it.took so long to reply...brought an s10 been driving it instead of the bonneville...but I gotta give the bonneville an oil change tomorrow, ill check that starter out tomorrow....ill b sure to let u kno

thats a pretty nice bonnie, you should fill out your sig and put a pic up in your sig.

ur rite dude!

sig, avatar...same thing!! lol