[Digitalfiend]

I know how we all love the "what is this sound" type of threads but I'm pretty sure I've narrowed the sound down, so bear with me.

Now that the weather is cold (2-3C and below), when the car is first started in the morning it makes a high pitch whining sound that oscillates in volume. This whining lasts perhaps 10-20 seconds depending on how cold it is. Once the car is driven a few feet and/or allowed to warmup for a minute or two the sound immediately ceases.

At first I thought it could be one of the belts, so I didn't pay much attention to it. Well today I had to move the car and couldn't let it warm up fully, so it was still whining. As soon as I began to press the clutch the sound stopped. I took my foot off the clutch pedal and it came back. I repeated the test and this time only pressed the clutch pedal far enough to remove the play in the pedal (perhaps 1/4-1/2"). Once again the whining stopped.

At this point I'm convinced that it has something to do with the clutch, but I'm not sure what it could be. As I mentioned above, just resting my foot on the pedal and pressing it until all the play is gone (i.e. clutch still fully engaged) seems to immediately stop the whining. I've lived with the infamous clutch-pedal squeak (which is very faint/quiet) since March of this year, but was told by the dealership that it is nothing. I doubt the two noises are related.

The clutch seems to hold fine and is not slipping at all. The car had its 24K km inspection, which involves inspection of the clutch travel etc, and the dealership didn't note anything unusual.

So, any ideas what this problem might be? I just want to get some ideas before I take it in.

Thanks.

[klaymon]

I wonder if this is deeper in the transmission than the clutch. I've noticed a phenomenon lately that others described. Even with the stick in neutral, the car will pull forward when first started and it's very cold. I wonder if you are hearing something in the transmission case itself.

[Digitalfiend]

Originally Posted by klaymon

I wonder if this is deeper in the transmission than the clutch. I've noticed a phenomenon lately that others described. Even with the stick in neutral, the car will pull forward when first started and it's very cold. I wonder if you are hearing something in the transmission case itself.

I'm not sure, but I swear the sound is coming from infront of the firewall, as it sounded like a belt at first. This sound only started after the temperature dropped. I also don't notice the car moving at all when starting in neutral...but that might be because I have my foot on the brake when starting the car. Perhaps I should try starting it without my foot on the brake and see if it moves.

The only other thing that I notice on my car is a very very faint metallic rattling that becomes noticeable in 5th. Any change in throttle position will stop the sound and then it returns. I don't really notice this sound in the other gears and I honestly can't remember if I've had this since day one. It actually sounds like it is coming from the front right of the car. I figured it was just another one of our quirky noises. I've noticed it for the last 6 months so I would assume it isn't related to this new noise.

I drove my car last winter when the roads were dry (on the RE070s..yeah I know) but I can't recall if the car made this noise when starting up in sub-zero temperatures.

[klaymon]

Originally Posted by Digitalfiend

I also don't notice the car moving at all when starting in neutral...but that might be because I have my foot on the brake when starting the car. Perhaps I should try starting it without my foot on the brake and see if it moves.

I can feel mine pull against the e-brake after letting out the clutch. If I let the brake handle down, the car will creep forward. Just a thought. Good luck with it.

[kwlsti]

My car makes lots of fun sounds... but every things working fine so I’ll just leave it till I notice something other then just noise

It could be related to anything involving the clutch and clutch system to the drive train maybe even oil at the cold temp...<O

[Digitalfiend]

Sometimes I wish I had more tools and experience with working on cars. If I did, I would be under that car and pulling the tranny to check the clutch assembly, among other things. I think I would quite enjoy doing that but I'm not comfortable doing that with my current expertise (or lack thereof. )

I know people were having problems with clutch-shudder, but I don't think that is it.

Ah well, I'll see what happens.