Screeching sound from engine on 'cold' days

Hi All,

I own a 99 civic coupe - has given me flawless service
however, since around 2002, it has been emitting a shrill
screeching sound when the engine is started cold (such
as early in the morning. Once the engine heats up, the sound
is gone. I put 'cold' in the subject line because I live in
Phoenix AZ

Yet, this problem occurs more frequently once the weather
starts to cool down. I know this is not the brakes, it sounds
more like a belt needing some silicon but despite repeated checks
with the shop, they cannot find a problem.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks,

John

 

Sounds like a glazed belt to me.

Peter H

 

What have you done in the two years, since it started doing this?

 

I have the same problem. Search the usenet archive, the problem seems
to be 'piston slap' and is apparently normal.

http://groups.google.com
search: civic piston slap

 

===========================

One of your belts is just a bit too loose. A tiny shot of water will
prove which one it is. Then tighten it a bit.

Piston slap sounds like a VW diesel idling. That's not likely your problem.

'curly'

 

Serpentine belt. Time for a new one.

 

What would I hear/see?

John

 

That is an interesting possibility because it fits
the symptoms. How can I confirm this?

John

 

Well, I've taken it to my mechanic -had him check out the belts
to make sure they were appropriately gel'd. I got new (front) brake
pads about 6 mo. ago and had them look at the engine again.

Another problem is that this problem occurs when the engine is cold -
typically in the mornings. By the time I drive up to the shop, the sound
is gone.

Then there are periods of days when it disappears completely so makes
me suspicious of what's going on.

John

 

As pointed out by 'curly', that's not it...

John

 

Do loose belts cause the noise to occur only during cold days when the
engine is cold? Noise due to loose belts should occur regardless of
outside temp, shouldn't it? My car only does that when temperature is
<20 degrees F. Annoying as hell but goes away after 1-4 minutes
depending on how could it is.

 

Could be the bearings in one of the pulleys or tensioners.

 

Like Curly said, I would first suspect a belt.

I replaced my alternator belt and removed, then reinstalled the power steering
belt earlier this summer (all as part of a bigger job). I immediately started
getting the screech-at-cold-startup, too.

It turned out I hadn't tightened the alternator belt sufficiently. I did so, and
have had no problems since.

 

Loose belts do this on cold mornings because you have just started the
engine and the Alt goes into a full load to start replenishing the battery.
Ya ought to hear it in -20 degree weather
Steve

 

That's pretty much everything that I would have tried. Nothing harder to
find than an intermittent noise or problem.

Have you left the vehicle at the dealer overnight, so that they have the
first crack at starting it in the morning? Maybe that way, the noise would
show itself.

--
Brian

http://www.cakesbydarlene.ca

http://www.accesswave.ca/~orion

 

Spend $20 and replace the belt (yourself) or spend $80 and have the
dealership do it. Do not spray any belt dressing on it because it's really
sticky and gets all over things and "gloms" up the engine compartment.

 

Belt. Definitely. Would bet $100 on it.

 

My power steering pump makes a whining sound when I start the engine on
real cold mornings (-10 F and below). That noise is different from a
slipping belt tough. The whine usually fades away within one or two
minutes. Seems that the PS fluid gets thick and the pump cavitates a bit.


Carl
90 Integra

 

Rubber and rubber-like compounds, unlike other materials, shrink when
they get hot. A cold belt warms up and shrinks.


Elliot Richmond
Freelance Science Writer and Editor

 

Idler bearings usually get noisy when they get HOT, but a belt that
chirps cold is loose, or 'glazed' as someone else said it. Once the
engine is warmed up, squirt some water on one of the belts and restart.
If you get the same noise, that's the belt to tighten. You can also try
running the fan, headlights, stereo, portable beer fridge, to see if the
squeeling lasts longer. Then you could guess it's the alternator belt. I
think Honda belts have to be a lot tighter than they did on cars in the
'olden days'

'Curly'