11fusionsport Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Hello fellow ford owners, please forgive my lack of mechanical knowledge, I'm hoping somebody has an inkling as to what is happening with my vehicle. Suddenly, my 2011 Fusion Sport AWD with 100,000 Kms is making a grinding noise upon start-up. (worse on cold starts) the noise is interupted when bringing the shifter through park to drive...it seems to clear up the noise also. I can't get my car into the shop until later this month. At first I thought possibly my starter was sticking, however, now i'm worried it may be transmission related...As soon as the vehicle turns over, there seems to be a pronounced grinding noise; for lack of a better word. then a dull grinding noise that seems to have a rotational sound if that makes any sense...I'm hoping its not a warped or damaged flex plate...Any ideas, I'm worried I will be forking over thousands of dollars....On a side note, this happened a few days after I took it to a 10 minute oil change...though it seems like its coming from the transmission? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 If the grinding noise is on cold starts and only in Park but not Drive, I would suspect possibly low engine oil, or incorrect viscosity oil, or both. Quick change places (and yes, some dealerships even) are notorious for that. Since you don't have an associated smell, I would say a leak is not causing it. Check the oil on the dipstick with the car parked on level ground and engine completely cooled down. I really hope the oil shows up at the hash marks and does not have any debris in it. Now, if the grinding is absent in Park or Neutral, but present when the car is in gear (such as Reverse, Drive, 1/2 etc), then the PTU would be a possible culprit. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11fusionsport Posted August 11, 2016 Author Share Posted August 11, 2016 (edited) Hey thanks for your reply, honestly didn't expect to see one so soon! Yes, grinding only present in Park up until i throw it into drive. Oil level is fine, within acceptable range. no debris present. today I thought it might be a bad bearing in the AC idler pulley to try and comfort myself.....but after reading other posts from 2010-2012 fusion sport owners, i suspect it may be the flex plate...I also noticed the grinding seems to be more pronounced when starting with her nose downhill...I could speculate all day. But I won't know for sure until it's diagnosed by a professional. Every shop I've called is booked up for at least 2 weeks. Summer time has been hard on a lot of vehicles I presume. They said if It is the flex-plate, its going to be around $1500 (Canadian dollars) I sincerely appreciate your input and optimism. Cheers! Edited August 11, 2016 by 11fusionsport 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Does the noise remain gone after you start driving, then put the Fusion into PARK again? There's the perennial rust buildup on the rotor issue after car's sitting for a while. Interesting idea on the flex plate, will have to look into that. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11fusionsport Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 Yes noise disappears totally in drive, though there's an audible noise when selecting Drive or Reverse which dissapear...this seems to be more prevalent with nose downhill as mentioned....Neutral and park at idle there is that same grinding noise....although sometimes there isnt......perhaps i'll get a video of it.The engine also moves aft on the mounts considerably when selecting Park and Drive...not sure if excessively...will be looking into mounts as well as I've heard with transverse engines this can be an issue. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11fusionsport Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 FIXED. problem solved. Installed new starter. Old starter wasnt retracting smoothly and would stick (rust/debris buildup)and seemed to be lacking a hard plastic bushing that the new starter contained. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11fusionsport Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 Man she idles quiet now! Cant hardly tell shes turned on! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 How did you figure it out? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11fusionsport Posted August 15, 2016 Author Share Posted August 15, 2016 took a chance and Installed the starter .....transmission guy wanted to pull the tranny...but before I did that I just purchased a new starter for 280 Cdn and installed it. you just have to pop off the battery box and its easy access. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11fusionsport Posted August 15, 2016 Author Share Posted August 15, 2016 aslo there's a video on youtube of an older dodge neon that had a sticking starter. was making the same noise as my vehicle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 I had the same problem at about 2 yrs after I bought the car. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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