Car “whistles while it works”

[CJ Taylor]

So my 96 (manual) Accord has been doing this especially since the colder weather has set in: On a really cold morning, upon the first couple of turns on start up it makes the weirdest and rather loud whistle that varies pitch 3 or 4 times within a second. It is almost reminiscent of R2D2. If it weren’t for the fact it’s not what you’d like to hear from your car, I’d say it’s actually kinda cool. Maybe my car is saying “Good morning, CJ. Man, it’s cold today!”

For the first couple of minutes as it’s heating up it gives a type of whistle or “cry” that varies in volume. I’ve tracked down that sound coming from around the timing belt housing. I did have a timing belt/water pump change less than a year ago. I have a theory (based on the noise) it may be a bearing somewhere close by. But if so, what?

Anyone else ever had something similar like this or any ideas? The car runs fine. I just let it heat up and drive off. No performance issues. At the same time, I’d like to be preemptive and try to tackle the problem.

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[valde]

You could try to chance accessory belt tension.

[Kevin Criswell]

[quote=”skalrynd” post=85611]So my 96 (manual) Accord has been doing this especially since the colder weather has set in: On a really cold morning, upon the first couple of turns on start up it makes the weirdest and rather loud whistle that varies pitch 3 or 4 times within a second. It is almost reminiscent of R2D2. If it weren’t for the fact it’s not what you’d like to hear from your car, I’d say it’s actually kinda cool. Maybe my car is saying “Good morning, CJ. Man, it’s cold today!”

For the first couple of minutes as it’s heating up it gives a type of whistle or “cry” that varies in volume. I’ve tracked down that sound coming from around the timing belt housing. I did have a timing belt/water pump change less than a year ago. I have a theory (based on the noise) it may be a bearing somewhere close by. But if so, what?

Anyone else ever had something similar like this or any ideas? The car runs fine. I just let it heat up and drive off. No performance issues. At the same time, I’d like to be preemptive and try to tackle the problem.[/quote]

Did you change the tensioner and idler pulleys?

Usually what happens is when a new belt gets put on old pulleys the new belt is much tighter than the old one was putting more stress on the bearings and causing them to fail much faster.

[Mike]

If you only have this problem when it’s cold and when it’s warm it goes away, high squealing sound are most likely drive belt too tight, or too loose, or the idle pulley is wearing out.

[george gonzalez]

If it’s under the timing belt cover, it’s not a slipping belt, it’s a bearing complaining and about to seize up. Better replace it before it seizes up solidly and breaks or slips the timing belt. That would be bad. Take off the timing belt and spin all the pulleys. They should spin smoothly and silkily with no roughness, grabbing, or wobble. If money is REAL tight you could try injecting the bearing with some new grease, that might extend its life for another year or two.

[CJ Taylor]

Yes, when the job was done both belts were changed along with the tensioner, idle pulley and water pump.

[valde]

Testing if adding or decreasing accessory belt tension changes sound also detects problems with all other accessory belt driven components. If it has automatic tensioner just push it with wrench while engine is running. If sound doesn’t change its probably problem with timing belt components.

[Author]

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