Every morning I go to start my car and it's below 40 degrees, I can hear this odd whining sound coming from what I have narrowed it down to the alternator (I think). It only lasts maybe 20-30 seconds, then goes away. It's like the lubricant on some of the bearings just isn't taking too well to the cold. Also, it only does this when it's been sitting over night or during the day and started at the evening (basically when the car is real cold) and doesn't if I cut it off and turn it back on. Taking it to the Scion Guys tomorrow to leave it overnight for them to look into it. Anyone else having an issue simular to this?

 

Not really, i had my MP3 CD blasting

But down in Cen-Tex, it was 32 degrees at 12pm.

Maybe some condensation on the belt froze, and the belt was slipping??

Wait, Dont we have a timing chain, and not a belt....? All well. Toyota will make it all better!

PLEASE PEOPLE, make sure you let your car warm up, esp during this colder season!!

 

I haven't heard any odd noises from mine when starting it while cold out. I'm interested in what you find out from the dealer though.

 

It was almost -9 with windchill when I started my car this morning and I didn't hear anything odd.

 

Is your car a 5spd? Im asking because i know my friends neon which is a 5 spd will whine like a stcuk pig. On his car its just the tranny fluid is so cold and thick it doesnt lubricate well enough till it warms up. I dont know if ours would do that since we have hydraulic clutch, his car is cable. I dont know jut adding my .02, my car is a 5 spd and all i notice when it gets cold is the shifter gets a little stiffer as does the clutch till the fluid warms up.

Jay

 

i get a ticking when I go about 75 mph i think it is my heat shield because that is the only time i hear it.....

 

i have some problems in the cold also. i chug along like no other when its cold with massive wheel hop as if it wants to die on me, but when it warms up its fine.

 

It's a 5spd. And now with the roads iced over, I don't know if I'm gonna be able to make it to the dealership. It's not that I can't drive in ice/snow (I lived in Amarillo for ~3 yrs, they get a lot of ice/snow up there), I just prefer not to.

 

you get wheel hop and that equates to your car wanting to die on you? and to the original poster, I wouldn't worry about it..cars sometimes make funny noises in cold weather..especially after sitting for a long period of time.

 

when i say wheel hop in this thread im talking about the chugging motion right before a car stalls out. you know the chug chug chug dieeeeeeeeeeeeeee. wheel hop was the only term i could think of to describe it. again only happens in 40 or below

 

wheel hop is when the wheels hop while trying to gain traction. be a little more agressive with the throttle (give the car a little more gas to get going) to counteract the stalling out feeling. I usually get the car going btwn 1k and 1.5k RPM, get it going with about 2k.

 

Got the car back this evening. They told me the odd noise I hear at startup is to be expected/normal due to the cold weather we're having, and it WAS the alternator making the sound. I dunno if I believe that or not, but it really isn't a major issue, I'm just trying to take advantage of the warranty while I still have one at 22k miles. Also, they did the moonroof TSB on it since the dealership I bought the car from (Metroplex Scion) never told me anything of it, figures.