whine from engine bay on very cold start

34832 Views 20 Replies 14 Participants Last post by traildogck, Dec 11, 2013

paulie

Discussion Starter · Nov 18, 2005

so as the temps get colder, into the teens around here at night, my car has been making an odd whining noise when i first start her up in the morning. i don't know how to describe the noise, other than that it sounds like a stall horn in a cessna, though only anyone whose flown in one would know what i'm talking about.. it's not a super loud whine, but it's definitely audible over the engine noise. the pitch of the noise goes up and down with RPMs, but oddly, it also is effected simply by moving the steering wheel. stumped as to where to even start looking, but i almost sounds like a very mildly squeaking belt, if that is possible.. it goes away after the car warms up a bit, then runs perfect after that.

wondering if anyone else has run into this?

what i need to do is wait until this weekend and pop the hood after i start it to see where the noise is coming from. i have not had time to do this in the mornings before work... so really just putting "feelers" out there to see if anyone else has seen this, i will post more info tomorrow.

what i ultimately need to do is put the ol scoob in a garage!

too bad i don't have one.

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

The_Lizard

· #2 · Nov 18, 2005

As a first guess, I'd suggest checking the power steering fluid and belt.

bheinz57

· #3 · Nov 18, 2005

Most Subaru engines have odd cold weather noises. Until warmed up to a certain temp, my engine whines like that through winter.

Brian

mckeand13

· #4 · Feb 3, 2007

This is my first winter with a Subie.

It was about 7 deg. F. here yesterday and mine did the same thing.

Lots of noise upon startup from the p.s. pump, and would become louder while turning the wheel. It eventually went away when it warmed up.

I'm sure it's never had the p.s. fluid changed in its 90k miles. As soon as the weather warms up enough for me to work in the garage I'll probably change the fluid over to some Mobil1 synthetic ATF.

Anybody see a problem with that? That stuff is like water compared to normal ATF's.

Has Subaru had any bulletins about p.s. fluid?

hawg

· #5 · Feb 3, 2007

Mine also has a whine to it. Louder on initial start up, then quites down. I have flushed the p/s a few weeks ago, but it did not have any affect on it. I had thought it was the alternator at first, but it would not semi quite down after the engine has warmed to operating temperature. Once warmed up, you can still hear it, it's just not as loud.

108H6

· #6 · Feb 4, 2007

Whine from engine bay

I have read the above post's but no one has mentioned if they still have a whine when the car is being driven. I have an H6 with 33,000 km's and have no whine on cold start up but have it when I start to drive the veh. in D. I hear it constantly as I press lightly on the gas and it appears to possibly have something to do with the tranny as I go through the gears. It is not very loud but just enough of a whine that it becomes annoying. This has just started recently. Any ideas on this tranny whine ?

mckeand13

· #7 · Feb 4, 2007

The noise did go away on my Subie once it was warmed up.

It was definitely the p.s. pump as it would get much louder if I turned the wheel while parked.

The noise was present while driving and rpm related. As I said though, it did go away after about 5-10 minutes of driving.

MJS

· #8 · Feb 5, 2007

Had the same thing this morning. Temps were around 0 degrees F. Battery was pretty weak, but was still able to crank it barely. Once it turned over, it had a serious wine to it. Only lasted a short while and then it was fine.

CPToversteer

· #9 · Feb 5, 2007

get a $5 mechanic's stethoscope and use it to pinpoint source. my guess would be bearings on some accessory, probably alternator. listen to alt with the stethoscope when the whine is occurring.

108H6

· #10 · Feb 5, 2007

engine whine

update on engine noise

This afternoon I checked all fluids and then took car for test drive. Whine was still there on acceleration/deaceleration. Once back home I poped the hood and listened for noise while at regular idle.When accelerator pressed whine was noted while veh. in park. I thought it was at idle but it is at park also but only when gas pressed. I stepped on the gas whil;e door was open as well as hood and it was very noticeable. The noise seemed to come from the front belt area.I checked the serpentine belt and it appeared to be tight. When I bought the car three months ago the only thing that needed replacing was this belt. Although it seemed fine. could it have been put on to tight when installed. At one point I thought it might be wheel bearings when I drove the car but now that the noise is also at idle but only when gas is applied.
Tomorrow when it's light I will check the belt more closly as well as all pully bolts in case one is loose. At this point I am ruling out any bearing problem.

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CPToversteer

· #11 · Feb 5, 2007

one easy way to check if it's due to a loose belt is to rev car hard in neutral or park and see what happens. this is worst-case scenario for slipping belt since engine accelerates much faster when freed of load of drivetrain and so belt slips worst then, at least momentarily.

you shouldn't have any bearing issues--wheel bearings or alternator or whatever...on a car with 33K Km, but it does sound to me like your noise has to do with one of the accessories driven by the belt.

skyphix

· #12 · Feb 5, 2007

Happened in our old 98, happened in my 2004, still happens in my OBXT. Normal for Subaru.

JazzyMT

· #13 · Feb 5, 2007

I get a VERY loud, screetching whine on startup when it's VERY cold (below -10F) and it gradually goes away over the course of 30-90 seconds as it warms up. I think it's the starter not releasing fully and the edges of the gears grind a bit as it slowly retracts. It has done this since new, but doesn't seem to pose any problems...plus, it's rarely that cold in the morning. At 5F to -5F sometimes I will get a lighter whine that goes away even quicker.

108H6

· #14 · Feb 5, 2007

Whine

My cold start up is normal with no whine at all unless I press on the gas ( driving or at idle )

When it warms up today I will check the belt and make sure all nuts and bolts are tight.

Skyphix says this may be a normal noise for a Subaru.

tdelker

· #15 · Dec 10, 2013

Same exact issue, 2005 XT auto. I am not sure what it is. Needs to be very cold (<10F) and it lasts until the car is warm. Since I'm too much of a whimp to open the hood in the dark in the cold, as well as never having enough forsight to have a flashlight in the car, this might have to stay a mystery.

subiesailor

· #16 · Dec 10, 2013

Make sure your coolant is not freezing! - also with the older Subaru's there is a simple Oring seal on the power steering pump that is very easy and cheap to replace very cold temps can cause one thats about to go to more or less go - the result is air getting sucked into the power steering pump and yes it gets loud. That would be my first item to check on a 2002

tdelker

· #17 · Dec 10, 2013

I actually suspect this, and have the oring because I have a small leak there. But since the sound is there whether I'm turning the steering wheel or not, I don't suspect this. It does get slightly louder when turning the steering wheel. I will change it out this weekend and hope it doesn't get this cold again!

subiesailor

· #18 · Dec 10, 2013

tdelker said:
I actually suspect this, and have the oring because I have a small leak there. But since the sound is there whether I'm turning the steering wheel or not, I don't suspect this. It does get slightly louder when turning the steering wheel. I will change it out this weekend and hope it doesn't get this cold again!

The pump is being driven by the car at all times so if its sucking air via the Oring then its going to be noisy as long as the car is running. Turning simply changes the pressure ie load on the power steering system hence change in noise etc. Given the sound changes pitch etc when you turn fair bet its your Power STeering.

HiPowerShooter

· #19 · Dec 11, 2013

paulie said:
it sounds like a stall horn in a cessna, though only anyone whose flown in one would know what i'm talking about..

I know both sounds well. The Subie sound never concerns me...both of mine do the same thing here in NE Wi...just chalked it up to "it's too cold for anything to be running". The same sound blaring from a 177 "Gutless" or a "Flying Chevette"(172) requires just a tad more attention!

subiesailor

· #20 · Dec 11, 2013

HiPowerShooter said:
I know both sounds well. The Subie sound never concerns me...both of mine do the same thing here in NE Wi...just chalked it up to "it's too cold for anything to be running". The same sound blaring from a 177 "Gutless" or a "Flying Chevette"(172) requires just a tad more attention!

Oh yes I know that sound. Though tried to keep my flying time to better machines. The Verieze sorta destroyed my interest in flying 1940's technology.

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

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