whine from engine bay on very cold start

34894 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.

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traildogck

· #21 · Dec 11, 2013

tdelker said:
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.

Mine seem to do this randomly, but only when cold. it has happened at as high as 20* But it doesn't last on my car. Only a few seconds, and has nothing to do with actually turning the steering, since it is usually gone quickly.

But, in my car, I suspect a bearing noise at ramp/spin-up. On the PS pump, alternator, or A/C compressor. Usually, if the motor is warming or warmed, it can't replicated. I have heard other Subis..Gen-2 and Gen-3 make a similar noise at start up...in my apt complex. Always very cold.

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