Got me stumped here, maybe someone else has experienced this. The last couple mornings when I first start the car (99 civic ex d16y8) there is a slight squeal. Not high pitched belt squeal, just a faint squeal that you can't hear much if the radio is on even the lowest setting. Turn off the radio and you can hear a low chirp is probably the best description.

Anyhow I thought it was a ps belt, so last night I popped it off and replaced it. This morning I still had the noise.

Here's the kicker... the first start of the day, it makes noise for approx 2 mins then dies out and goes away. I go to work and the car sits for 5 -10 hours and I start it, nothing..no noise of any sort. I can let it sit all day, and re-start it, and its dead silent. Let it sit over night (like 9 pm to 7 am ) and she makes a little noise.

I dont have time to investigate it further until the weekend so I was looking for suggestions.
The PS belt is brand new dayco (purchased last night) the a/c and alt belts are 9 month old gates (inspected both--both look brand / no cracks etc)
I also thought perhaps a/c compressor related...so I turned on max a/c ---noise isn't affected in anyway.
Figured Id test alternator...left max a/c on, turned on lights and stereo to max... noise isn't affected.

So Im sorta thinking power steering pulley, or perhaps power steering pump is heading out.
Thoughts/ideas/tests would be appreciated.

 

Check and retension all your belts. Because of weather changes belts and other parts expand and contract so retensioning may fix the issue.

 

will do...thanks.
I was thinking if I put the belts under load (via max a/c etc) if it was a belt issue it would become more pronounced for me, thus singling the belt in question out.

its chilly up here in the NE at the moment, so Ill check the belts out this weekend probably.

 

Pull the PS belt completely off and start it after sitting overnight. I bet your noise will go away. If it does, your pump is likely bad. If not, shut it off and pull another belt off. If the sound doesn't go away with all 3 belts off, it could be a water pump or t-belt tensioner. I'd put my money on the PS pump though.

 

timing belt and water pump have 30k (both oem honda) so my money is also on the ps pump. Ah..not a huge deal, I can change it in 5 mins...

Thanks

 

Could be bearings in the pulleys and/or tensioner.