Ive never encountered such an issue before with all the vehicles ive ever owned. i searched a little on here for a similar issue but couldnt quite find what i was looking for. so get a load of this, it just started happening a couple days ago and i thought it was just a fluke but seems to be hanging around. i have an 01 4.6l supercrew, when the truck is off, and i go to turn the key to start it, it makes the horrible screaching noise it would make as if the truck was already on and you tried to start it. so i turn the key back off and then try again and it will start just fine. i would imagine this is a precursor to the starter failing? not sure if anyone else has experienced this but any ideas?

 

could have a bad spot in the flywheel

 

but even if it was missing some teeth in the flywheel, would it still make that noise, cuz if you just have a starter outside the motor or something hooked up to power to test it, it shouldnt make that nasty noise right?

 

i have the same problem, it only does it every other week or so... if you find an answer let me know please

 

how many miles you got on yours? ive got a little over 200k so my thought is that its about that time

 

mines got 165k so im a little behind you haha

 

yea man, got some catchin up to do! lol i dont wanna just throw a starter at it unless i know for sure

 

I may have an answer for you. Mine did this or literally seven years before I could find an answer. Went to three different shops and the Ford dealership and all they could tell me was that it was not the flywheel. Well last May truck started having other starting issues and I had to replace the solenoid on the firewall and ever since that horrible sound hasn't returned. Cheap and easy fix I wish I had found years ago. Hope this helps you all.

 

you talking about the solenoid switch right? 20$ is better than 160$ or more for starter
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...4961_213556_0_

 

Yes I am, I replaced the starter and less than a month the sound was back. I was so pissed cause I was told that would fix it. Let me know how it turns out for you.