There's been a few times over the last year its done this, and today it happened again. I was just about to go to bed when I remembered to post this.

When I turn the key to start the car, instead of the starter turning, I get a buzzing, arcing, type sound coming from inside dash near left heater vent. Maybe up behind fuse panel. I let up on the key, pause for a second, and try again. The car then starts.

It's happened 3 times over the last year, but the last 2 were more frequent. I'd like to fix this before it does it every other time I start it, or I become stranded.

If anybody has heard of this give me your thoughts. I'll be taking a look at the wiring shematic tomorrow to see what it might be, but figured I'd check here too.

 

have some one stand outside the car to see if its comeing from outside the car
if so it sounds like the same problem my car is in the shop for
right at this very second
its the starter
its loose
or the bendix is messed up
it may not do it all the time but it will get worse over time
its a buzzing whirlling* im horried at spelling sound


mine started doing it 3 months ago when i got the car
i was told it mite need a starter then
but it always seemed to start every time
then 2 weeks after haveing it i went to start the car and all i heard was that sound i was scared as i never heard it before
but then i hit the key again and it started right up

its the mounts that hold the starter that are loose

or the bendix
Usually the first indication of a malfunction is when you attempt to start the engine, the starter spins with no load and sounds like an electric motor running (which it is). When this happens the bendix spring or retainer washer on the end has usually broken.

im thinking thats my problem as well as yours but without
hearing your car i cant really tell

i cant think of any other noises that could be comeing from the dash other then the beep noise and the fuel pump when its primeing

hope this helps you

 

Are you saying it sounds like it's to the left of you, when you are in the driver's seat?

If so, I'd suggest looking through your wiring behind the fuse panel (disconnect the negative battery terminal first!) and see if you see any melted/burned wires.

Electrical fire is NO fun when driving down the road.

 

If I were you, I'd re-post your message on the General Tech forum, change the title to something different than "impending catastrophy", try "will this cause a fire? Zapping noise from dashboard" as a better title. That way two things happen; people will want to read it, and the General Tech forum is the most popular forum, so it'll reach a ton of people. Someone's had to have come across this before.

(laughs) And don't even mention you've got a V6, the sig line at the bottom of your pic is fine, but your ignition system is the same as V8's, so your motor size doesn't matter.

I'm pretty sure there's nothing of relevance behind the dashboard at the upper left. You've got a big empty hole there. Fusebox is down low. Above that there's just wires, no relays or boxes or switches or anything else. High above that, by the vent, are the wires for the light switches.

At the base of your steering column, on the "top" of the column (hard to get to) is the ignition switch itself. That's the only thing module I can think of that'd get juice in that area when you turn the key from "on" to "crank engine". When you turn the key from "off" to "on", that's when the fuse box gets all it's power.

But like Azrael91966669 said, noise can travel; hopefully it's just the starter and the noise is echoing.

I had my park/neutral switch on my stock shifter go up in smoke once; scared the **** outta me. I started my car outside work; suddenly I smell an acrid smoke - you guys that have burned up electronics know the smell I mean. I look, and it's curling up from under my window switches on the console! So I pop the lid off (no screws, haha) and white smoke was pouring out of the black switch on the shifter. I shut the car off and unplugged it ASAFP, waited a bit, plugged it in, and it was fine... it was extra incentive to buy the B&M Megashifter.

You might wanna buy a $20 fire extinguisher and keep it in the car, too... if the fire starts behind the dash you'll need to pop the bottom hush panel (panel above your feet, around the pedals) to aim the fire extinguisher up there.

 

I bought a $15 one from O'Reillys, but I think I saw them at Wal-Mart for about $10. Handy thing to have. Just replace it every several years because they lose their charge, even if the guage shows them full still.

 

My 92's starter enable relay was wrapped, with the factory tape, to the harness above and forward of the fuse block.

Look for a lump of tape on the harness. Wire colors yellow, drk green, pink, and black and yellow. Not the one with 2 violet wires.

 

yeah, It was late and I was tired when I posted that. I'll try general tech.

The sound is coming from the left. LIke it's just inside and right of the far left heater vent.

Unfortunatly if I get someone to stand by the front with the hood open I would end up starting the car over and over for hours and it probably won't happen.

I've had an extinguisher for some time now. just never know.

Doesn't really sound like any sound the starter would make though. Much more of a shorting sound or something. I'll look up in there for burnt stuff.

 

Where you are talking about is yes the fuse box area and the junction block tween engine compartment & firewall.
Other side is relay boxes for several functions.
You would easily notice Something awry in that area, with or without starting engine.
Next time try to start car with hood open & see IF ya notice any smoke.....
BUT since it's not constant, that's hard to decide when to open hood to check.
Sounds like sizzling/cooking wires sound...
Bet no odor since the action is outta cockpit.