that's my thought too ..
if that's what it is ..
it's the Bendix drive gear on the starter.

though ....usually what happens when one is bad is that the starter will
crank the engine at first, but then disengage and zing before you get it
fired up ..
or ....it'll not engage at all sometimes. , and zing, like half the time
when you go to start it..

a good next step might be to remove and examine the starter ..or try another
one quickly if you have a spare.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Fisher" <garciasghostvw@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2010 2:47 PM
Subject: Re: Starter sings

> My first thought is that you've nearly answered your own question...
> sounds
> like the gear isn't full disengaging from the flex plate/flywheel. Could
> be
> excessive gunk, a weak spring or?
>
> Cya,
> Robert
> On Oct 23, 2010 2:28 PM, "John Rodgers" <inua@charter.net> wrote:
>> Well, this is not new on my daily driver - an '88 GL- It started a
>> while back, just now getting attention, ie - getting louder).
>>
>> Immediately after start-up, right at the point where I let go of the key
>> to let the spring kick it back to the running position, the starter
>> (apparently while dis-engaging but not sure) give off the
>> whhhhiiinnnnngggnnnnnn sound, gong from low to high pitch. Not sure
>> exactly how to describe it, but it's annoying to say the least, and
>> surely is an indication of some problem developing. Starter works very
>> well in starting. No dragging or any thing like that . Starts the engine
>> on the first try every time. With cold weather coming, I would like to
>> get this tended to before the cold sets in to stress all systems.
>>
>> Any ideas, Volks?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> John
>>
>> --
>> John Rodgers
>> Clayartist and Moldmaker
>> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
>> Chelsea, AL
>> Http://www.moldhaus.com