Rep Power: 0

I bought a 1999 Honda Civic LX 5-speed with 194,000 miles last month. Since then, the cold weather has hit and I’m getting a whine out of my belts. It’s not constant and seems only to creep up around 1,800 RPM, then 2,700, and finally somewhere around 3,500. It sounds metallic and has a shrill buzz to it.

I applied some belt dressing and that quieted them down long enough for a quick trip around town, but the whine came back. Took it into the shop and they cleaned up the belts for me. It was quiet all the way home, but started up again the next time I took it out. So I applied a little more dressing and took it out for a long spin on the highway. It took about 30 minutes of driving then the sound disappeared.

Is it safe to assume that this is purely a belt issue? Could it be a bearing somewhere? Belt tension? From the owner’s records, I know that the A/C Compressor and Clutch, Water Pump, and Timing Belt were replaced this year (don’t know about the belts, but my mechanic said they looked good). The origin of the sound makes me suspect the A/C. However, running the A/C doesn’t have any effect on the whine.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 
Rep Power: 812

most likely the belt is not tensioned properly (too loose)

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for your quick response! I'm going to raise the idle pulley a few turns and see what happens.

 
Rep Power: 0

+1, I checked my belts and one of them was loose, so I tightened the power steering pump (belt).

 
Rep Power: 0

Is it possible the power steering pump could be affected by the cold weather?

I've got a whine that I thought could only have been coming from a belt, but it gets louder when I turn. Power steering fluid level is good. No mods/kits on the 01 civic EX w/ AC. Am going to replace power steering belt, check the pump then, and change the oil tomorrow. Will update.

How tough would it be to diagnose if the belt tensioner is doing its job?

 
Rep Power: 235

yes the belts will squeek if they are loose, and they could also be old and dry and time to replace. as for the powersteering noise you have in the cold that gets louder when you turn you could have a pump that is on its way to the *******. maybe get to the dealer for a good powersteering flush and check the tension on your belts and take it from there.