Starter Noise On Cold Days

[Jay MacLeay]

I have a 2005 4.0l. When I start the Jeep for the first time on a cold day, the starter makes that noise they make when you try to start the engine while it's already running. Once the engine has warmed up, it's fine. It only does this on cold days. On warmer days it's perfectly fine. Is my starter going?

 

[macleanflood]

Probably. Try some percussive maintenance.

-Mac

 

[Camdenst]

percussive maintenance.

I'm going to start working this into to the rotation

 

[CharlesHS]

The grease surrounding the Bendix gear spring is probably gummie due to carbon dust causing slow movement of the Bendix gear. You can try removing the starter, blowing out the dust inside the armature and the spray contact cleaner into the Bendix gear assembly. This should free up the Bendix gear movement.
The alternative would be to disassemble the starter, clean and degrease the Bendix gear spring.