starting twice??

[Phantom01Pathfinder]

Ok, so this is a stupid question, but here i go. How bad is it to crank your car while its already running? I happened to crank my '01 Pathfinder today while it was already running and i heard a buzzing type noise. Is there some kind of safety mechanism that prevents the starter from trying to engage the flywheel or??? I am not too concerned about this since its the first time ive ever done it, i just wondered what exactly happens...

All input would be great

Thanks, Phantom

[Mr Nice]

don't worry about it. the starter just spits the gear out and it effectively rubs on the face of the flywheel. the flywheel is spinning too fast for the starter gear to catch anyway, so the buzz/rattle you hear is the spinning starter pinion trying to engage the spinning flywheel.

i've done it several times on several cars. won't hurt a thing.

[SnowSurfLax]

Yeah, one or twice won't hurt it. Repeatedly will eventually kill your starter and could damage the flywheel, but it does take quite a number of times.