Nissan Repair: 1997 Nissan Maxima loud startup, nissan maxima, pterodactyl

Question
My 97 maxima sounds like a screaming pterodactyl when I start it up in the mornings.  I know my car does not have a timing belt, so what is causing this noise?

Answer
Jeff,

Sounds like the bendix on the starter is going out.  Basically, the starter throws out the drive head into the ring gear on the flywheel and spins the engine over.  If the bendix gets old and ten years is old it will start sticking and make the noise you describe.  Change it soon or it will tear up your ring gear on the flywheel and that will mean it has to be replaced.  This would cost a lot since the transmission would have to be removed from the car to get it replaced.  So, change the starter and you should be fine.