[VIDEO] Squeaking from engine on first cold start (1 Viewer)

[Pyrenees]

Here's the video:

It's not as loud in-person as the video makes it seem.

Criteria:

It only happens when the outdoor temp is around 40F or below.
It only happens on the very first cold start of the morning.
And it only lasts about 20-30 seconds max.

Other than this, there is zero noise/squeaking/anything. Runs smooth and quiet.

Timing belt was replaced with Aisin kit a few months ago at 170k miles (has 173k now). During that time, they checked all bearings including the fan bearing and determined they were still good. I recently removed the serpentine belt and put it back on, to replace the alternator brushes. No idea if that triggered it, but I'm just thinking of anything that could be related.

I went over my service records and interestingly enough, a month before I bought the car, the PO had the serpentine belt replaced because it was squealing and "too short, causing improper tension on the system". I don't see anything else about idler pulleys or tensioners though.

Thoughts?

 

[saucebox]

Had a similar thing recently—only when temps were cold, or any time it snowed or rained. It ended up being the fan bracket. Which I knew to replace when I did the timing, but didn't.

 

[Pyrenees]

I'm gonna be pissed if it's that. 3k miles ago they told me it was good. I told them I wanted it replaced due to age and they talked me out of it.

Did yours continue to get worse/make noise all the time, eventually? I can live with it if it doesn't get worse.

 

[saucebox]

Mine stayed constant—chirpy until the engine warmed up. And chirpy again if the engine was allowed to cool enough before I drove it again.

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

I’ve had that sound on my LC, intermittently- it never really bothered me.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Look at the fan while it's spinning from the side, see if you can see that it's wobbling at all next to the fan clutch. My fan bracket went out, similar noise, when it got really cold. Mine went quick, made noise for a week and then seized completely, took the belt with it.

 

[Pyrenees]

Fan doesn’t appear to wobble with relation to clutch. Mechanic checked for play 3k mi ago. Hmmm

 

[TheForger]

Sounds similar to the noise I’ve been experiencing

Odd Noise From Engine Bay During Startup - NOT Header Tick

Granted mine seems to be originating more from the brake master cylinder area but it’s hard to tell. It goes away before I have the chance to locate the origin, and I haven’t gotten my assistant to help me because honestly I really don’t care lol. Keep us updated with any solutions you stubble upon!

 

[LateOnTheBrakes]

Did you ever figure out the squeal/chirp? I did my timing belt less than 1000 miles ago and did the idler pulley, tensioner, and a new fan bracket. I did not replace the idler or tensioner for the serpentine belt. But I did install a new serpentine belt. Mine chirps when the engine is cold though it's 70*F outside. It goes away after the truck warms up. It is RPM related so I am sure it's something on the belt drive. There are no pulleys wobbling.

 

[ClassyJalopy]

ONe way to check for the fan bracket and other pulleys health is to take the serpentine belt off and turn them by hand. If they feel "grainy" or rotate completely free with absolutely no resistance then they are most likely bad!

 

[LateOnTheBrakes]

The fan bracket is new. I ordered a new idler pulley and tensioner because I don't feel like listening to it any longer. If it stops raining I will install them today and report back.

 

[LateOnTheBrakes]

I replaced both and the squeak is gone. Both the tensioner pulley and idler felt grainy, though the tensioner felt worse and didn't spin very well. I wish I would have done this during the timing belt install. I had to remove quite a bit to get to it.

 

[LP01]

Did you ever figure out the squeal/chirp? I did my timing belt less than 1000 miles ago and did the idler pulley, tensioner, and a new fan bracket. I did not replace the idler or tensioner for the serpentine belt. But I did install a new serpentine belt. Mine chirps when the engine is cold though it's 70*F outside. It goes away after the truck warms up. It is RPM related so I am sure it's something on the belt drive. There are no pulleys wobbling.

So I'm still fairly new to my vehicle, and have had the same sound intermittently. Reading the post I may have misunderstood. Was this squealing related to the timing belt, or was it fixed by removing the serpentine belt and replacing the idler and tensioner pulley?

 

[LateOnTheBrakes]

I will have to go back and check my notes/receipts. I think I ended up replacing the fan bracket before the sound went away.

 

[LateOnTheBrakes]

So I'm still fairly new to my vehicle, and have had the same sound intermittently. Reading the post I may have misunderstood. Was this squealing related to the timing belt, or was it fixed by removing the serpentine belt and replacing the idler and tensioner pulley?

Ok. Checked my notes. I bought a new serpentine belt at the same time I did the timing belt. It squeaked afterwards so I did the fan bracket. Still squeaked so I did the idler and tensioner and it went away. My guess is it was the tensioner. Probably didn't like being pried to remove/install the serpentine belt. Orders are in chronological order.

 

[LP01]

Ok. Checked my notes. I bought a new serpentine belt at the same time I did the timing belt. It squeaked afterwards so I did the fan bracket. Still squeaked so I did the idler and tensioner and it went away. My guess is it was the tensioner. Probably didn't like being pried to remove/install the serpentine belt. Orders are in chronological order.

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Thank you. Going to give that a go. I thought it was my alternator when it died a week or so ago, but that wasn’t the case. These are the next steps.