99 Dakota 57K Miles. Had trans rebuilt over the weekend, long story but it started to slip and eventually wouldn't come out of 1st. Torque converter fell apart and destroyed the trans. Anyway, picked it up from the mechanic and now when I start it I hear a loud grinding noise when it starts. After it starts it's fine...no noise. Before the rebuilt trans it started "normally" and was a smooth start. It's hard to explain the noise but it sounds metal grinding immediately after I turn the key and once it's started it stops. Not a car expert obviously so any advice would help. Add to it now I also noticed that I have trans fluid leaking, looks like it's coming from right above the nuts on the pan.

 

the grinding t noise could be your starter.

and as for the leak. I would take it back to them
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I think you're right about the starter...it sounds like if you were cranking the engine while the engine was already running. That's the best way I can describe it.

 

Flywheel might have gotten bent and isn't aligning with the starter.




Later Daze,
Shorty

 

It's not the starter like I originally thought...it is the flywheel. Woke up this morning to find a nice puddle of trans fluid on my garage floor too. How hard is it to replace or fix the flywheel? Is this going to require taking out the trans or torque converter?

 

The ringgear is on the torque converter. I think they put in a used or rebuilt converter and did not see damage on the teeth. They are also known for tiny cracks in the snout that drives the pump. Oil then drips from the front of the trany. It then runs back to the pan.