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Old 12-14-22 | 03:24 PM
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Default Starter sounds

What starters sound good to you? Bad? Really stuck in your memory for whatever reason?

I'm purely curious since nearly everything I have ever owned has been a V8 and I've noticed my current daily has a very different sound and that a 12 cyl......well damn. They sound special.
Old 12-14-22 | 03:27 PM
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I love my 4.7 in my 4R. It has auto crank so there is no need to hold they key. I love how it some times takes 3 seconds or sometimes 5 or sometimes longer during cold. The longest ever, it was -40°, I was way up north near Sudbury, and the auto crank took 30 seconds to start the 4.7. Majestic

My 4.0 4R is just not the same
Old 12-14-22 | 06:45 PM
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The Honda starter sound in the 90s and early 2000's was nearly iconic. Very distinctive.

Old 12-14-22 | 08:30 PM
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Can we add more sounds?

This thread takes me back in time.
I liked the sound of the starter and especially the key chime.

Can't believe there was a video on youtube for both.

1981 Datsun B210 Hatchback

Old 12-14-22 | 08:59 PM
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I can always distinguish a Ford/Mercury starters from other cars.
Old 12-14-22 | 09:35 PM
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Originally Posted by SC300Es
I can always distinguish a Ford/Mercury starters from other cars.
I'm the same way with 90-2005 Chrysler starters, they just have the "engine start" sound if you know what I mean.

That Nissan "ding" is very nice, I could see it used in their modern stuff to be honest. It's not offensive/grating but still gets your attention. I HATE the ding Audi uses, first thing I did with both A8s is turn it off.
Old 12-14-22 | 09:36 PM
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Originally Posted by pbm317
The Honda starter sound in the 90s and early 2000's was nearly iconic. Very distinctive.

https://youtu.be/e-LXY9YnHqU
The "4 cyl" start sound I always think of is literally that, hood to know where it comes from lol!
Old 12-14-22 | 10:05 PM
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Probably the most distinctive starter sounds I can remember were the old high-pitched whines from the Chrysler starters of the 60s and 70s. They were also distinctive because their carburetors often allowed the engines to either flood or starve for fuel flood on a starting attempt, which took prolonged cranking and whines to overcome.


Old 12-15-22 | 07:18 AM
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I can recognize a UZ V8 starter from a mile away.
Old 12-15-22 | 09:33 AM
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Originally Posted by SC300Es
I can always distinguish a Ford/Mercury starters from other cars.
starting my crown vic always sounded like the UPS truck has arrived
Old 12-15-22 | 09:36 AM
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i always thought the Veyron had a very unique starter sound, almost more like a gas turbine spooling up

Old 12-15-22 | 10:36 AM
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I have to say the one thing, sound-wise, about the 2GR in my IS 350 is the starter. It just sounds like it's struggling every time. The German cars we've owned always seem to spring to life, but the Lexus is like, "All right, I'm up... "
Old 12-15-22 | 02:55 PM
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Ford's were very distinct throughout the 90's and 2000's. But I have to agree Honda's "scratch and choke" starters were iconic. They (Accords) also had a universal transmission whine at low speeds, or at least when they shifted lower gears.
Speaking of whines, nothing takes the cake beyond GM full-size vans of the same era. There is so much gear whine, I discovered a fan-based society that tracks it on Facebook.


Old 12-15-22 | 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Fizzboy7
nothing takes the cake beyond GM full-size vans of the same era. There is so much gear whine, I discovered a fan-based society that tracks it on Facebook.
GM trucks are same way.
Ate startes so bad had to keep a spare on hand and reciept in glovebox at all times.
Went thru 6 re-mans in a year on one of my trucks and they die out of the blue and leave me stranded, just keep returning and exchanging them out. Yikes! nobody made money on that. lol

PS- one time lucked out and started died while getting gas and there was a Discount Auto across the street, changed it at the pump while laying on my back under truck(10 mins), made no friends that day while people waiting to pump gas, I'm sure. haha
Old 12-15-22 | 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
I can recognize a UZ V8 starter from a mile away.
Same, all the time. I turn my head.

Ford 5.0 starters from the 80s are dubbed into many, many things even still today.

They sounded good so I guess it figures.

Any German V8 starter is going to stir my soul, especially an older one. V12s are out of this world.



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