Whining engine in cold

[02_Legacy]

This morning I started my car up, and running late as always I just started driving without letting it warm up. But today it was whining much like the power steering does in older Ford pickups if you know what i mean. But I don't think it was the power steering. I don't necessarily think anything is wrong I just want to know where the noise is comming from. And this never happened last year that I remember which is wierd also. Any ideas?

[Navi271]

My alternator whined a bit before it killed itself. Actually there was a giant initial WHINE, then was barely whiny til the battery light came on months later.

Do you know in what general area the whine was coming from?

[02_Legacy]

Do you know in what general area the whine was coming from?
umm... the engine bay :lol:
I will have to see if it happens again tomorrow, but like I said I'm always in a hurry so i doubt I will have time to open the hood and listen.

[green97gt]

remove the accessory belts one at a time

start car between belt removals

listen.

hope its one of your accessories, not a timing belt idler.

OR

go to the auto parts store and spend a few bucks on a stethoscope, or use a long screwdriver etc held up to your ear..but be careful to not let the screwdriver or whatever get caught in the belts.

i had a buddy break the shit outta his face that way

[02_Legacy]

So this morning I listened again and it has to be the power steering. I must not have been paying much attention monday morning but it definatly gets louder as I turn the wheel and almost goes away as I go straight. I still wonder why I never heard it last year though :smt017

[green97gt]

your fluid low? or when ps pumps fail, they get whiney

[02_Legacy]

I think it is just cause hydraulic fluid gets real thick in the cold so the pump has to work harder to move it and thus it whines. Just my theory. But it does have something to do with the hydrulic fluid getting thicker.

[subleg69]

Last winter my car made the same noise in the cold and again is doing it this winter. pump seems fine i havent worried about it. when its cold nothing works as it should lol

[ouch1011]

Might try flushing out the fluid with some new stuff. The way most people drive burns the crap out of the fluid, and being 8yrs old, its due to be flushed out anyway