Short grinding noise after startup

Hey, 96 winstar, 3.8, auto with 130k miles. After startup usually in less than 30 seconds I feel and hear a fairly loud grinding like noise. Usually more frequent after vehicle has been unstarted for a few days. It is very brief but feels like the engine slows and might stall. It does it in park as well as in gear. My guess is that I have a bad crankshaft bearing that acts up on startup. Any other ideas? Thanks

Just curious- do you have the A/C engaged or is the defroster on? We're talking about this in another topic about how the A/C clutches, and the electrical field (coil) can go bad. My '01 has done a quick grinding sound about a dozen times in two years and I think it may be the A/C clutch- this only happens when I turn on the A/C though.

Hey, I have wondered that also. I sorta dismissed it because if it happens when the car is in gear and in motion the car will lurch. If it was the ac I felt it would make the belt squeal and burn a bit but not be enough to make the car have that reaction. I will keep that in mind as an option. Thanks

Try leaving the air controls set in the "VENT" position.
My '96 WILL engage the A/C in all positions exept vent and Off.
This way, if it does not happen, you can know to look harder at the A/C..
Also.....after a few minutes......when the engine has been running, you can set the controls to A/C......and if it happens then.....you KNOW to look hard at the A/C....and feel safer about all the other possibilities at startup.

Hello,

I have a 95 LX which appears to have the same symptom. It intermittently will have a clicking noise upon startup or some type of grinding noise which
appears to be related to the speed of the motor. It does go away.

I took it to a transmission shop and they did not feel it was the transmission. They said they thought it was the EGR valve. However, there were no codes inidcating such. Suggested to continue to drive until some codes or engine check light came on.

Have you gotten any feedback on your post or have you repaired the problem.

Please let me know as this appears to be a common issue?

Regards