Hopefully someone out here can help me I have a 93 Formula 105500 miles on it.Recently its been very cold like 20 during the day like 5 at night.But when i start my car in the morning or after its been sitting for a while i hear this loud almost like grinding or clunking noise,then very quickly it sounds like a power steering whine,then it all goes away.It takes about a second for all of this to happen..very quick,the car is fine other than that,if i shut it off then restart it,it won't make the sound..What could this be?I Don't wanna hurt my car!! Maybe a pulley or sumthing?? Oh also idk if this will help,when i'm driving sumtimes i hear a grinding noise not like i hear when its cold,but it's like a rattling,and i think it's coming from the pullies,also it doesn't effect ne thing,and i happens very rarely,only when i'm at idle at the drivethrough(lol)!! HELP!!

 

It could be an accessory or it could be something as simple as the drive belt tensioner. I just replaced the supercharger drive belt tensioner on my Grand Prix last week and it exhibited similar symptoms. Grinding noise, high pitched squeeling at starting in the cold weather which would go away after awhile. The best way of knowing is to pop the hood of your car and listen to all of the accessories and the tensioner and try to pinpoint the noise.

 

I hope it's sumthing like that and not sumthing internally.Like i said it does it for a split second then everything is fine,until it sits for a long time.Would a pulley make a clunking noise though?I might try to replace the balencer,and def the tensioner.If this doesn't work idk what else it could be.

 

Of course you have someone start the car while your under the hood. I bought a stethoscope for $10 and if you have an idea you can be sure. My tensioner was bad and the sounds it made were very similar.

 

I can't stress enough to pop the hood and listen in to all of your accessories before you guess. As mentioned above, an automotive stethoscope is your best bet. That is what I used and it is surprisingly accurate and clear in pinpointing noises.