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whine from engine bay on very cold start

34894 Views 20 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  traildogck, 
paulie
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! :D too bad i don't have one.
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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 ?
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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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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.
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