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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHCold Start Whining Noise (Help Needed)
Reported or suspected cause
sai
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that report identifying a cause
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Reported cause
I had this exact (in my opinion) noise in my '03 4S, and it was the SAI.
Leading evidence: 'sai' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'sai' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check after belt...pulley checks' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that suspect a cause
1
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Suspected cause
As others have said, its probably a pulley or the secondary air pump.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that suspect a cause
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Suggestion
Removing the belt and checking the pulleys by hand is pretty simple.
Replace may be power steering...fluid loss...pump...resovoir
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Suggestion
Common this noise I have issue as well and to further determine if stationary item like SAI pump or another system turn the steering wheel while moving and if noise changes may be power steering...fluid loss...pump...resovoir.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
15 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T212127Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hello Friends,
3 months into ownership and I can confidently say the 4S was the best purchase I've made in my life! I anxiously wait for the workday to end so I can find a reason to drive or just stare at the car.
Onto the problem....On cold starts, I am recognizing a whining sound that comes from the engine, and am curious if you can help identify the cause before I bring it to a mechanic? The noise lasts for roughly 30 seconds and then goes away.
I have attached a video of the whining sound, as well as some photos of my car
Water pump, alternator bearing(s), idler pulley, one of the other pulleys, or SAI pump. Need to remove the serpentine belt, check all pulleys by hand, spin them, spin the water pump, start car briefly with belt removed and see if the sound is still there.
If it sounds like there's a vacuum cleaner in the engine compartment, it's the SAI pump. If you remove the serpentine belt per DBJoe's recommendation, and the noise remains it's definitely the SAI (as it's not driven by the belt). The SAI is located in the front left hand side of the compartment, and injects air into the exhaust system at startup to help "light" the catalytic converters (it's an emissions thing). Good Luck
My money is on the SAI pump bearings. You can disassemble the pump, and use a needle/syringe to lubricate the ball bearings. When you open it, it will probably be completely covered in carbon dust from the motor brushes. I've done this twice now on my 996.
Couldnt get your attachment to open on my phone to hear for certain, but it may be that you are low on power steering fluid. Happened to me a few times over the past 18 years.
Beautiful car! As others have said, its probably a pulley or the secondary air pump. Removing the belt and checking the pulleys by hand is pretty simple. One other easy test is to unplug the secondary air pump and see if the noise stops. Its on the left hand side of the engine bay.
Hi guys mine does the same thing. On cold start. It goes away the instant the engine idles down at approx 100 degrees. Guessing also secondary air pump?
Common this noise I have issue as well and to further determine if stationary item like SAI pump or another system turn the steering wheel while moving and if noise changes may be power steering...fluid loss...pump...resovoir. ........need to check after belt...pulley checks. Good luck
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