My truck is extremely noisy when i start it up, especially when it's cold. It's hard to explain the noise but its a high pitched chirping sound (almost like metal rubbing together) that occurs every time you start it up, and when it's cold the noise is louder and is accompanied by all sorts of loud noises that i couldn't even begin to explain. I was told to replace my belt so i did, didn't help. Now I'm being told that my starter needs replaced so my question is this: How do I know if it needs a whole new starter or just the solenoid? Or should I just replace the whole thing since it's 14 years old??

 

Also Im having a friend do some maintenance on the truck... Since i know nothing about vehicles can anybody give me some suggestions on what would be good to replace or pay attention to on a 14 year old truck that looks as if the previous owners didn't give it any tlc?

 

it does sound like it is the starter going bad. starters usually get a high pitched sqeeling kinda sound when they go bad. if it is something to do with the starter better off just replacing the whole thing so you wont have to rip it apart for a while especially assuming it is the original.

 

What size engine?

 

i think this might be very informative related to your problems http://easyautodiagnostics.com/start...ch_test_1.php:)

 

sure enough, it was the starter. i've never heard a more beautiful sounding startup thanks