Toon

Hi all,

whenever I fire up the engine in the morning I hear a slight whining noise. This will go away after a miniute or so when driving.

Is this common or something to look at?
It is currently a bit cold here in the Netherlands, maybe that has something to do with it?

Roly

Toon,

Are you married? I sometimes hear a whining when I'm driving briskly.

Roly
'90 C4

WMRiceman

Mine does the same thing when it’s cold outside. I traced it to the power steering pump. As soon as the fluid warms up, the noise goes away. Here in Florida we only have winter for a week or so it seems so I just live with it. I hear some whining from the passenger seat as well. I think that's more closely linked with the speed I'm driving or that last Porsche parts receipt. Mark

Andy Roe

Toon,

Where does the noise come from - the engine bay???

Does the noise change with RPM's? If so, you may want to look at the Alternator bearings. Also, my A/C compressor is a little noisy when the engine is cold (perhaps bearings on this????)

If you turn the heater to cold, does this noise stop? If so, then your rear heater blower motor is on it's way out.

I think the Power Steering pump should only run when you are turning the steering wheel.

Andy

Randall G.

Hi Toon,

If your car had a 993 engine, this would be an easy question to answer. 993 engines have an electric air pump that runs on a cold start, supplying extra air to the heads to help warm up the catalytic converter(s). Makes a distinct whine, and turns off after a few minutes. I don't believe 964 engines have this air pump.

AK

Wish that I could be more helpful as to what is causing the noise but mine has a similar noise for the first maybe 1-2 minutes if it is cold as well.

BaysideC4

I am so glad I am not alone. I bought my car in September when it was warm outside. As soon as we had our first cold spell the sound started. It sounds like whining or possibly a suction sound from the engine compartment. It seems to be low and to the left of the fan. I first thought it might be a loose belt so I tried applying some belt dressing to narrow down my problem.

It always stops when the car warms up, but can be a little embarrassing. It does however seem to change pitch when the car accelerates or when the accelerator is depressed. I tried twice to get it looked at and it always goes away before I can make it to the mechanic. On warm days or after the car has been started that day it doesn’t happen.
I wish I had some way or recording the sound and posting it so we can get some opinions.

AlanC

I've had a whining/whirring noise on startup occasionally over the 4 years I've owned my car. It's usually gone by the time I've gotten to the second stop sign and I forget about it until the next time it occurs (until now :eek . I haven't been able to associate it with cold weather, or even cold starts. Sometimes it happens after I've been parked at a store for half an hour after having driven around for a half hour or so. In other words, the car had been somewhat warmed up before parking it for a little while. It's one of a couple of mysterious behaviors of my car, along with the multiple beeps that I usually get after the first start of the day.

Alan

Andy Roe

[quote] along with the multiple beeps that I usually get after the first start of the day <hr></blockquote>

Alan,


The beeps you are getting on the first startup of the day should most probably be the PDAS system charging itself. THe beeps sound if the system does not charge itself quick enough. A cause for this could be a smaller than standard (74a/hr) battery. Mine does it sometimes on cold mornings - perhaps when the battery is having a hard time. I would not worry about it too much, just wait a litle longer before driving off after the 1st start (wait until the PDAS & ABS warning lights go out on the dash).

Andy
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Herbie

Toon

I heard a similar noise once time only, when here in Rome outside temp. went under 4°C.

Total noise duration was about 2 minutes, the noise was varying with rpms.

I hope it's normal!

AlanC

Andy,

Thanks for the reply on the beeps. As you said, the beeps don't happen if I wait until after the warning lights go out. They occur almost without fail otherwise.

Alan

AndrewM

My 89 C4 does the same thing, I also believe it's the powere steering pump. It always goes a way once she warms up.
Drew
89 C4
86 930

Toon

Hi all,

thanks for all the replies.
This re-assures me that it seems to be quite normal, as so many other have the same thing.

I'm still not sure what is, but I'm sure it's not the power steering pump as the whining also occurs when on a straight. The sound varies with RMPS, but it's not the AC compressor either.

I think it could be the oil pump. As it only occures when it's really cold outside and it does not occur after when I parked the car for a while to get some shopping or so and the oil is still somewhat hot.

AK

My thoughts exactly on the oil pump issue. The noise on mine does vary with RPM and it seems to subside about the time that the oil pressure begins to go up and down with RPM.

Guess I need to do some research on how the dry sump oil system works. Glad to hear that the noise seems normal though.

Herbie

Power steering pump is always on, not only when steering.

BaysideC4 gave the more realistic description of the noise; mine now (T° is going down...) does the noise at every start.