97 Trans Am ws6

First off i wanna say my car has been running fine for months then today i get off work and get in my car and go to start it and it starts extremely hard and then is followed by noise of metal bouncing around and hitting something else metal. It sounds like its up top and im thinking it may possibly be something broken under the valve cover. Just strange because the car is running like ther is nothing wrong with it just this sound, normal oil psi, no miss, rpm normal, not blowing smoke. I babied the car home a few blocks and it seemed as something was wrong just this sound of something clanking, ill pull the valve covers in the morning just curious if thats not what it is what else to check without pulling the motor apart.

z28cam1970

sorry to hear that but when you said started hard did you mean long crank or starter issue?
could possibly flywheel cracked but i would imagine if you had something loose in valve cover you would have a miss from broken valvetrain component could also be water pump
eitherway hope its not in motor
good luck

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

Post up a video. That would help a bunch.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Perhaps a bad starter? Strange sounds could sound like they're coming from elsewhere.

97 Trans Am ws6

hard start as in starter cranked really hard, and i thought it would miss too, i looked under the car and there was nothing on the ground, it was pouring here today so i havent gotten a chance to really look at it, and it makes this noise as its running.

97 Trans Am ws6

i dont have a camera that can do that but the best way i can describe it would be if you put a nut in a coffee can and shook it up, what i would imagine it would sound like of a rocker broke loose and was tapping off the valve cover, im just trying to get ideas of whatelse to look at tomorrow if removing the covers doesnt show anything

97 Trans Am ws6

pulled the valve covers and everything looks good, i dont know where else to go with this, last thing i wanna do is really start pulling the motor apart, anyone ever have a similar problem?

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Run the engine with the valve covers off, one at a time. Cut up a thing of cardboard to catch any oil from hiting the exhaust. Do NOT rev it.

See what's going on with the valvetrain while running.

This will either confirm or eliminate the valvetrain as the issue.

I asked about the starter because if it's screwed up, it could be rubbing or dragging.

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

Many times a "coffee can rattling sound" can indicate rod knock. If it's a bit of a hollow sound and not a higher pitched tapping you might have bigger things to worry about. Hopefully this isn't the case! Good luck!

97 Trans Am ws6

if it was a rod knock wouldnt it be a constant sound? like a constant tap tap tap, like this sound has no pattern to it, and sorry i know thats a crappy example.

97 Trans Am ws6

well theres my problem, does anyone have a write up on how to replace the starters on these cars?

draggin97s10

iTrader: (2)

its 2 blots that hold it on, 1, 1/2 nut on the power and a 8mm on the switched ground(ignition switch) Very straight forward. the Bolts that hold the starter on are 15 mm if my memorey serves me correct

97 Trans Am ws6

i just cant figure a way to drop it i have pace setter mids and that blocks it from up top and theres 2 brake lines that run right below it? will it have enough room to slide it past where the bellhouse was?

mguidry629

iTrader: (6)

Nice to see a problem get solved. Nice teamwork everyone!

It seems like I was just under my car in the starter area for something, but I don't recall any brake lines in the way. I don't have a 97 though.

Here's a pic of the starter from shbox.com.

http://shbox.com/1/starter.jpg

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

They aren't brake lines, they are transmission cooler lines.

You may need to remove/loosen the exhaust to get the starter out. Or, remove the solenoid to get enough clearance.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

HEE-HEE-HEE I'm right AGAIN. Like the fifth thread in a row I was dead nuts on. I gotta start charging for this. Heaven knows pro audio ain't paying the bills these days......

Glad you found your problem and it wasn't anything serious like a rod. Now fix that bitch and get cruising again!

97 Trans Am ws6

i just wanna thank everyone for their time and input into my problem and im extremely happy all that broke was the starter