m20 noise when cold

[PNWDan]

Ok here is the issue. On cold start up my engine makes a whining noise from the timing/distributor area similar to a gear drive on a v8. As it warms up for about 5 minutes it goes away. Any ideas?

[jlevie]

With the engine completely cold, remove all the belts and see if the noise is still there. If it is, replace the timing belt and tensioner. If it isn't, replace the water pump.

[PNWDan]

The timing belt was done about 4k ago. I will do the test without the accessory belts this weekend

[E30_fiend]

Was the waterpump done along with the belt? Sometimes a bad bearing in the pump will make a ton of boise until it warms up enough to conceal the noise.

[jlevie]

The timing belt was done about 4k ago. I will do the test without the accessory belts this weekend

Did you replace the tensioner with the belt? Even if you did new parts occasionally fail.

[Flynn]

My car justed started doing the same thing !

[StereoInstaller1]

My car justed started doing the same thing !

You live in Phoenix, how would you know what your car does when it is cold?

[Flynn]

That is true.... well let me rephrase that to when i start my car in the morning to make noise for about 3-5minutes

[StereoInstaller1]

heh

[PNWDan]

here is an update
I havent had time to take the belts off and look further but I started it up and got this quick vid with my phone

It makes the noise cold only and you can hear the noise taper off towards the end

[PNWDan]

I found the cause, now what's the solution...

[jlevie]

Seems to me you found a symptom, not a cause. That gray stuff looks like it might be ground up timing belt. If it is you need to find out what the belt is rubbing on.

When the timing belt was replaced did the lifting bracket that fits between the upper timing cover and the engine get left off?

[PNWDan]

I was referring to the cause of the noise. The black stuff is ground up belt. In the pic you can also see the belt is off the cam sprocket by a good 1/8". The belt has about 4000 miles on it so im thinking its the tensioner but I will pull the cover and verify tonight.

[SpecM]

did you repalce the t-belt tensioner at that time?

[PNWDan]

did you repalce the t-belt tensioner at that time?

The previous owner did the work. I have the reciepts but havent looked yet for the tensioner specifically. I would assume he did because thats just what one does when doing the timing belt but I guess you really cant assume anything can you. Maybe the tensioner not working correctly can cause this? I guess I have to just wait until I can get home tonight and take the cover off to see the whole situation.