97 Max GLE funny noise on starting

[bprosise]

I have a 97 GLE with 135000 miles. When the car is cold and I start it, it has a strange screeching sound for about 2 seconds. It is lower pitched than say a squeaking belt. It only does this when it is totaly cold and I cant seem to Identify where it is coming from. I though maybe power steering but the fluid level seems to be good. Any Ideas where to hunt it down and kill it?

[JeEvE]

Sounds like it can be the starter. You can regrease it and that might make the sound go away.

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/516

[Canoman]

We just had the starter replaced in my fiancee's 99 GLE for the same problem. The guy at the shop said that the problem was that the part in the starter that contacts the flywheel was sticking out and still contacting the flywheel once the engine had started. He said that it was something that would eventually fail, but whether it would be in 6 weeks or 3 years was unpredictable. We had them replace the starter just to be sure that she wouldn't get stranded. She's been thinking about replacing the Maxima, and if she did get stranded, she'd probably go buy a new car the next day.