very rarely when starting up my truck, 2000 f 150 supercab 5.4, instead of the motor turning over it makes a loud whistling/grinding noise. I turn the ignition off again and turn the key again and it fires up fine? anyone else have this problem?

 

you mean like the starters grinding?

 

sounds like starter. make sure its not loose.

 

hell, check the teeth on it and the flywheel.

 

If its your factory starter, either its not getting enough power, or it has internal power loss. check connections, or get a new one soon, before you get stranded at a very inoportune time.

 

mine does that, it grinds sometimes....

 

replace that starter built54 lol. looks like you got some cash tied up in your truck,it looks good. dont want to ruin that flywheel.

 

mine would grind, i took it out it was fine except for the washer on the very tip of the shaft was wore out, i mean broke and almost half of it was missing... i probably coulda fixed it myself if i knew thats what was wrong before i got a new starter...

hell i think it even had a c-clip on its tip holding that washer.

 

It must be the starter drive, also called the Bendix, You can remove the starter and just replace the drive. The drive is the part at the back of the starter that contains the gear that drives the flywheel. It's not the gear part that goes bad, but some part of the drive.

 

Mine was doing the same thing. I went through 3 or 4 starters before I finally broke down and had the flywheel fixed.

 

so you just suggest that i check the starter? and if the teeth are bad replace it?
how much do they go for? about 120?

 

If it's grinding on startup, it means that it's not engaging completely. It could be the starter or the flywheel, but the starter is easiest and cheapest to change first.

 

hmm... I dont think it will come off with my headers, or atleast not without a fight... Ill check it when i install my stall converter.

 

LOL thanks for the warning...

still lookin for LT headers here... for a reasonable price.