Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 11:07:18 -0500 From: "The Malt Hound" <jvaljeannospamamcharter.net> wrote in message news:G6TOd.4377$Fy1.1623nospam.lga... > 9000 CS turbo model. > > Occurs when first starting out for the day, and thereafter randomly, > though always after starting up. > > Doesn't sound mechanical (too steady; not a squeal too), subsides > after a short time. Sounds as if the idler pulley bearings are going. Get this fixed soon. When it fails, it will throw the belt. If you try to drive with a thrown belt (no water pump) the engine will overheat and likely blow the head gasket and possibly warp the head. Big $$$. To troubleshoot the problem, remove the serpentine belt and start the engine. Only run it very briefly, just long enough to determine that the noise is gone. If so, (kill the engine first ;-) ) spin the individual pulleys to see if you can feel which one is bad. It's possible that the alternator, waterpump or AC are the offending ones, but experience shows that it is more often the idler or tensioner pulley. These are cheap and should be replaced prophylactically at about 60-80k intervals anyway. Change the serpentime belt at the same time. -Fred W