I drive a 2007 Fit Sport and now that it's colder out, it's started whining/screeching a bit when I start the car after it's been off for a while. Is there anything specifically wrong or is that normal? It's never failed to start yet, although it's taken a couple seconds longer the last couple mornings. I live in Central PA. I bought the car in April 2014 and it has over 120,000 miles on it.

Thanks!

 

As long as it starts OK, I don't think there's any problem. I'd probably be screaming a bit too if you tried to start me at 15 below.

 

Did you ever change your alternator belt? Screeching sound might be the alternator belt.

 

Nope, I haven't. And it wasn't on the Carfax report so I don't think it was done before I purchased the car. Is that belt normally replaced after a certain amount of miles?

 

Yeah it is actually. I forgot how many miles but everything needs to be changed at one point or another to maintain the car. I'm surprised the person didn't give you a history of the car before you bought it

 

So far as I know, serpentine belts are usually replaced more based on wear than strictly on milage...but the general idea is very much true—they do wear out eventually and need replacement. I also agree that this sounds an awful lot like a worn belt (or something closely related, like a tensioner that isn't tensioning it properly).

I've yet to have a car that doesn't take a bit more effort to start in cold weather. That part is entirely normal and expected.

 

Yeah they do wear after time and the screeching sound is probably the belt. I haven't had issues with cold weather starts at all except when it was time for my valve adjustment.

 

Ok, so I guess I'll take it in to have someone check it out. I took a recording of starting it this morning, so if I figure out how to upload and post it I'll do that.

 

Hopefully this works: Vocaroo | Voice message

Thanks everyone for your input.

 

Doesn't sound like any belt screech to me. It's just that your battery is cold so your car is cranking more before starting. If your battery eventually fails, replace it with the larger 51r size battery from Costco. That battery holds up much better to the cold in the long run that the puny little stock battery. If you rely on your car and if your battery has never been changed, I'd go ahead and change it.

Belt screech sounds like a high pitched squeal, kinda like a poorly lubricated door.

 

Yeah after recording it I realized that it doesn't sound much like a whine/screech. I guess I was thinking of the part right after the battery stops struggling. But the battery makes sense, since after it got really cold it also takes a second to come to life when I turn the key to "on" now.

 

That sounded like a really slow/hard start to me, get a new battery.