I have a 2009 Civic with about 117K miles on it. Just recently once the mornings started getting in the low 50's, I hear a little whining.

when I first start the engine, nothing..

but within 30 seconds there is a whining (sounds like I'm going in reverse with a stick shift). It goes away after about 5 miles or so. I don't hear it the rest of the day, at lunch or after work on the way home.

Yesterday I didn't start the car until 11am or so when it was a bit warmer and I heard nothing.

Any ideas? The dealership told me a couple months ago (there was no problem at that time) that the timing chains don't need to be replaced until they break or around 150K.

 

The only thing I can think of off the top of my head here is from the v6 engines that could possibly be happening on your civic. In the mornings or when it is cool, the inlet hose on your power steering pump can be sucking in air causing the whine you are hearing. Once the fluid and lines heat up it stops. I just searched ISIS and there is troubleshooting for humming noise. But look under the car where the pump is at the inlet joint. Signs of fluid leaking could point to the problem. The procedure on the v6 pump is replacing the inlet o-ring. Now like I said thats for an accord and thats the first thing I can think of off the top of my head. But it could be a possibility on your civic. Start it up and and remove the cap on your resivoir, then when it starts making the noise check to see if the fluid becomes full of bubbles/foam. If it does it is sucking air in from the inlet side.