So I have a 2002 5.9l dakota and everytime I cold start it in very cold weather <5 itll make a noise that sounds like gears grinding for under a second after its started then never do it again until next cold start.

 

Starter not disengaging right away?

 

well it does it AFTER the truck just started running then does that sound

 

As in Immediately after it fires, and you release the key?

 

yeah itll do its beautiful v8 startup then I'll hear a gear grinding kinda noise after I let the key go back

 

yea sounds like the starter bendix isn't retracting on it's own and the ring gear is pushing it back

 

so that means time for a new starter soon? Do u know if it would last long enough until spring?

 

If it's temperature sensitive, then something in the bendix solenoid is probably getting stuck when everything contracts in the cold. It should be fine otherwise. It shouldn't really tear up the ring gear too bad, and even if it does, it'll tear up the coast side and not the thrust side.

Now if it lasts longer and longer...that's gonna tear some sh up. But for only a half second or so, the ring gear is shoving the bendix back as the bendix is designed to accept when the solenoid plunger sticks.

 

so if it starts doing it for longer amount of time then I should replace it?

 

Technically at this point the bendix spring/noid has already failed so it should be replaced. But as long as it doesn't stay engaged for longer than you currently describe, it will be fine to limp along.