Car Makes Whining Noise When Starting Cold

Sometimes the noises your vehicle makes will change when the temperature drops. One whining sound you might hear only appears in cold temperatures in the morning when it’s freezing and can stop as your vehicle warms. It may not seem serious, but it could be a warning of something more serious.

Some engine components, such as engine oil, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid, will act differently when cold than when warm. In addition, if such fluids are old and contaminated, their operating qualities could change.

Besides fluids, you have belts, and these make a whining noise as they spin on crank pulleys to work other parts of your engine, such as the alternator, especially when stiff and cold or when you have a loose belt.

In our guide, you can learn more about this whining noise when starting the car in cold mornings. By the end, you’ll learn more about why a car whines when starting and what you need to check or fix to prevent it from happening or causing further damage. (Read What Gauge Wire From Battery To Starter)

engine whining noise

Why My Car Makes Noises On Cold Starts?

For a variety of reasons, a cold vehicle will generate noise. If your belts are even somewhat loose, it could take them some time to warm up and grip the pulleys as intended. The drive belt tensioner replacement may or may not cure this problem.

Additionally, cold fluids will make noise. Before they can function correctly, the power steering pump, engine oil, and transmission fluid must warm up before the noise disappears. The fuel pump is different as your fuel pump doesn’t pump any oils and only deals with gasoline, which doesn’t get thicker in the winter.

When your automobile’s engine is cold, the power steering may squeak or whine, which is a sign that air is in the system. Air bubbles in the lines make it harder for the PS pump to generate enough hydraulic pressure in the PS fluid.

If the sound changes as the engine warms, the issue may be a faulty O-ring on the inlet hose junction, which allows air to enter the system. An O-ring replacement should solve the problem.

Pay close attention, check under the hood, and take your car to a nearby garage where a mechanics stethoscope can help find the issue. (Read Weak Alternator Cause Misfire)

Why Car Makes Whining Noise When Cold?

1. Misfiring Engine

A misfiring engine causes this problem. A misfiring engine produces a whine or vibrations at idling. Cold starts exacerbate misfiring for a few seconds, which is caused by a leaking vacuum line.

2. Worn Drive Belt System

A bad belt tensioner or pulley in the car’s drive belt system can also cause a cold-start whine. The tensioner and pully ensure the drive belt operates smoothly. Bad tensioner bearings cause grinding or whining noises. The drive belt will fail, leaving you stuck.

Trying to start your car too often, in such cases, can leave you with a flat battery as the alternator keeps churning away to try and fire the engine on a cold morning.

How To Fix Whining Noise?

Drive Belt System Service

Replace the pulley for the tensioner and any bearings associated with the drive belt system as soon as possible if they are damaged in any way. Because a bad pulley bearing or tensioner can easily cause the drive belt to come apart, this is another extremely important part of the car.

If the drive belt breaks while you are driving, it may cause you to become stranded. It is also possible to quickly lose control of the car in certain circumstances, such as when the power steering and brakes are connected to the system.

Replacing Fluids

Always ensure that the fluids and lubrication you use are appropriate for the cold weather. If you are driving in freezing weather and using a lubricant that is not suited for such conditions, it will not only produce unappealing sounds.

When you get your car serviced, make sure that you use the appropriate grade of oil by consulting the weather forecast for the location in which you live. If you are not careful, you can significantly reduce the amount of time that your engine will last if you do this.

One thing you may notice on extremely cold days is your clutch pedal can feel harder when your first start your engine. While it won’t make a noise, it shows the fluids are thicker than normal.

1. Squealing Serpentine Belt on Cold Start

The whine of a worn belt will sound more like a screech. The serpentine belt is likely to blame if you hear a screech at the start that gets louder or comes back when rotating the steering wheel.

Causes of the Serpentine Belt Squealing in the Cold

Your accessory belt or serpentine belt is constructed of rubber, which loses flexibility in the cold. The stronger belt may slip slightly over the pulley because it has a more challenging time securing a firm grip on the pulleys. The result will be a screaming noise.

Fix Serpentine Belt Squealing in the Cold

Squeals from the belts are common in cold weather and worsen as the temperature drops. Even though there might not be a significant problem, you should examine the belt.

A modern belt might better maintain flexibility in the cold because older belts get stiffer. You should likely get a new belt if yours appears stiff or cracked. Because of what it controls, it may be wise to have a mechanic change your vehicle’s serpentine belt. (Learn How To Clean An Aluminum Intake Manifold)

2. Power Steering Fluid

Vehicle power steering systems sound more like a whine than a screech, and this whining noise will get louder as you crank the steering wheel on your vehicle when sitting idle.

turning in the cold

Causes of Whining When Turning in the Cold

More than that, the rubber on your belt is affected by the cold. The fluid in your power steering may also be impacted. The viscosity of the power steering fluid is high. In the cold, it thickens. As a result, your power steering pump will move with more difficulty.

The whining you hear can be your power steering pump making noises as it tries to start the power steering fluid. Power steering fluid thickens naturally as it ages, much like your belt; thus, newer is more resistant to cold than older. Some whining might be expected, especially when you’re just getting started or it’s very cold.

How to Fix Power Steering Fluid

It could be a good idea to check your power steering fluid if the whining noise continues. Replace the fluid if it appears to be soiled or gummed up.

How To Tell If You Need Engine Repair?

You are likely to have belt tensioners or idler pulleys if you hear a whining noise from a car when it is cold and after 15 to 20 minutes of driving. Your belts are kept at the right tension by belt tensioners; if they break down, they will make a lot of noise.

Oil seeps into these components’ and dries out their lubrication, which contributes to their frequent failure. They can also harm other engine parts if you don’t catch them right away and take care of them right enough. (Read Car Temperature Gauge Rises Then Falls)

At the very least, failing parts can cause your battery to drain. By default, your battery can lose power in extreme cold, and trying to power specific components could leave you stuck.

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