It is a 940 Turbo with 155k that I have had about two months and put about 1000k on. First time it happened it sounded like I ran over a tin can, I was just driving a half mile... It got progressively worse then stalled.

After it stalled it would start right up, and drive and idle smooth as can be (this has been the case each time). The turbo kicks in fine and does not smoke. It has happened about 4 times, and EACH TIME I have taken a stick to all the top components (timing belt, head, turbo, etc.) and their internals are quiet as can be.

The last time I had my mechanic with me, we heard it after 30 miles of driving, and we jacked up the car real quick and he said the sound was definitely coming from the flywheel.

He put a new (reman from Advance auto) starter in it (actually this is the second, the first swap was a "used" one we thought was bad too), and I took it out the other day and it did it again!!! Arggg.... [he inspected the flywheel and there is no damage]

What the heck is going on??? Could it maybe not be the starter? I am not aware of anything else down below that could make that noise or that could effect the flywheel...

Thanks in advance....

sounds like something is kicking the starter motor in onto the flywheel. It cant be a dodgy solenoid cos as you say you have changed that starter for several others and it still has the same symptoms.

if you leave it on idle for a while on your drive does it do the same thing? or is it only when driving?

What sort of road surface does it happen on when driving? if so is this similar road surfaces to previous times?

Matt

Hey Matt, thanks for the reply. I have not tried just letting it idle to see if it happens. There is no reason to when it happens. The first time was just a short .5 mile drive, the second was about 4 miles going straight, and the third was with my mechanic and we had driven for about 20 miles before it did anything; all on flat roads.

My mechanic thinks it may be the torque converter???

torque converter implies that it is an auto box. If it is the torque converter then it will get expensive. Have a look at the colour of the auto transmission fluid. it should be a redy pinky colour - wipe on a white cloth of some sort. If it has metal bits in it, your box is almost dead.

Have you tried the ignition amplifier on it? when mine went it did exactly that stopped randomly, sounded weird when running and starting straight back up. could be a weak spark signal generated from that.

Matt

Thanks Matt for your suggestions; I am collecting them all for my mechanic and we will put our heads together!