Alarming sound when starting
 

1999 2.0 Beetle

It's my girlfriend's car. Every time we start it, there is this quick noise that sounds like a fast horse whinny, almost like a high pitched rubbery revving sound. I have no idea what it could be. Suggestions? It's been doing that for a while. We just had the water pump/timing belt replaced because it was losing coolant. Less than two days after that, it's losing coolant again. Back to the shop.

RE: Alarming sound when starting
 

starter motor
i hear that all the time on the newer beetles

RE: Alarming sound when starting
 

haha i feel your pain. There is a quick fix on vw vortex, look up starter grinding noise. Im gonna do it, im sick of people looking at me wierd everytime i start my car. It makes Volkswagen look bad....but i dont care.

RE: Alarming sound when starting
 

That's interesting. I figured the starter motor would have made a more metallic grinding noise; that's why I initially discounted it.
Is this normal, or do we need to pull it because it is getting damaged?