Buzzing sound when starting cold (1 Viewer)

[Bryan72880]

Recently I have a loud buzzing sound from the engine area after starting the car cold. The colder it is, the louder and longer the buzzing. It only occurs on totally cold starts - i.e. after being outside overnight in 20F temps. It can be very loud, and embarrassing, sometimes.

Any ideas? I'm dreading the idea of trying to have the dealer diagnose

Thanks!
Bryan

 

[edog's 80]

I think it might be normal? Mine does it for like 3 seconds after startup, louder when it's colder. I know somebody posted a sound clip of theirs on here.

 

[crawlin40]

same boat

Mine has it since I bought it too. 90K and 6 years ago. Only when cold (8 degrees here yesterday) and stops after 2-3 seconds. Belts have been changed w/o a difference.

 

[Chaldaean]

Mine does the same. It was -8F the other morning and the cruiser sounded like a dying cow.

 

[scottymarks]

x4...warmer days=no dying cow

 

[vfrer]

Same here. Believe it is the power steering pump.

 

[harrydunn]

Ditto. Nothing to worry about.

 

[scottymarks]

Same here. Believe it is the power steering pump.

Hey I recognize that ledge(in your avatar)...although I don't think I've gone down it.

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

I thought I read somewhere people add fabric softener to the power steering pump to eliminate the whine. Perhaps that was for 'normal' whine and not cold start up whine.

 

[darwink1]

I was so freaking paranoid when I heard that noise! Weve been in a deep freeze up here for a while now and you should hear the cow screech when its -30 lol. I thought it was the starter sticking or something but a buddy mentioned the steering pump.

Not a very nice sound at all but at least I know Im not the only one now.

D

 

[flem0061]

Mine sounds like someone's stepping on a goose when it's cold. Same thing in that the colder the longer it lasts (-20 the other day and I wasn't sure if it was going to stop).

It's a horrible sound and cannot be good for whatever is making it but at least it's not uncommon (?)

 

[Tyler93]

Mine does the same noise, it is louder and lasts longer the colder it is. I believe it to be the power steering pump also because if I turn the wheel right at start up it modifies the noise. Is it a sign of a worn pump? I do have 245k so probably. Does anyone with a newly rebuilt pump have this same noise?

 

[d0ubledown]

funny...i just started hearing this noise the last couple days. for a brief second, right after the engine turns over, i hear the buzz. kinda like a sticky starter, but not so metallicy...almost a muffled heat shield noise. never would have thought the PS would be the culprit.

reassuring to know i wasnt the only one!

 

[lndcruz]

Same here. Believe it is the power steering pump.

ding ding


Mine does it to.

 

[Bryan72880]

I'm glad to hear that others have the problem.... however, it's still unnerving to hear the terrible noise. Any ideas on if the power steering pump needs some servicing or if it's just due to age? I only have 58K on my 1997 LX450 and the dying cow sounds like a full herd of cows sometimes!!

 

[kbahus]

Mine has been doing it all winter but not that bad. Started it up this morning when it was -15 and it was super loud and lasted quite a while, kind of scary actually. I think I woke up all of my neighbors too.

 

[snowrider73]

It's a PS pump, mine does it too. Those of us in Co. are hearing yesterday and today for sure. Supposed to drop to -17 tonight, sweet. Wasn't it 70 degrees 4 days ago

 

[aclos3]

I have owned my LX through three winters now and it has done this since the day I bought it. For me it happens right around freezing. If it is 38 degrees out it won't make the noise. 35 degrees and I might have a hint of it. 32 degrees and I get the noise for about a second. Any colder, and the goose squawks proportionally longer and and more... vigorously.

So, is it the power steering pump briefly cavitating due to the fluid being more viscous at colder temperatures? Or is it the power steering pump resisting spinning upon cold start up for similar reasons?

 

[lndcruz]

So, is it the power steering pump briefly cavitating due to the fluid being more viscous at colder temperatures? Or is it the power steering pump resisting spinning upon cold start up for similar reasons?

Probably, I always assumed it was a slight amount of moisture in the system that would turn somewhat slushy in very cold weather.

 

[coax]

Recently I have a loud buzzing sound from the engine area after starting the car cold. The colder it is, the louder and longer the buzzing. It only occurs on totally cold starts - i.e. after being outside overnight in 20F temps. It can be very loud, and embarrassing, sometimes.

Any ideas? I'm dreading the idea of trying to have the dealer diagnose

Thanks!
Bryan

Guess it depends on the sound; mine makes a similar buzzing sound and I'm pretty sure its the starter clutch. Not the contacts sticking as its not a grinding sound, but more of a loud buzz/whirr/etc. Only does it when cold, and the colder it is the louder it gets. If its ~20 it does it for a quarter second, if its 0 it will go for 2 seconds or so.