Rattling/Screeching Noise While Cranking (No Start)

2007 HONDA ACCORD
200,000 MILES • 2.4L • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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JGONZO2398
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So this is my girlfriend’s car, she went to work this morning and said her car had a rough startup and has had a rough startup this week. Once she got back to her car after leaving her shift, it wouldn’t start at all and is making this noise now
Feb 7, 2026 at 3:09 PM
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STRAILER
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O man, that does not sounds good, to me it sounds like the flex plate is broken and needs to be replaced. This means the transmission will need to come out, sorry about that. To be sure you can remove the starter motor and use a large screw driver to see if you can move the flex plate teeth easily, if so it needs to be replaced. Here is the location of the starter, thanks for the video, please upload a new video of the results so I can help confirm the issue. Disconnect the battery first. Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes

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Feb 8, 2026 at 9:12 AM
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JGONZO2398
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Should I start with a starter replacement? Or does it go deeper than that??
Feb 8, 2026 at 9:19 AM
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STRAILER
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I would remove the starter and use a large prybar to push the teeth of the flex plate, if it turns easily without rotating the engine the flex plate is bad. Please upload a short video in your response of the problem.
Feb 9, 2026 at 7:45 AM
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JGONZO2398
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Replaced the starter and she’s running once again!
Feb 10, 2026 at 9:19 PM
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STRAILER
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YAY! Glad you could get it fixed, thanks for letting us know. Ken
Feb 11, 2026 at 9:08 AM