2003 Civic K20a3 Cold start noise identification

[silverrat]

Can anyone help identify what this noise is? It has happened twice in the last 7 days immediately after a cold start below freezing temperatures. It goes away after 20-30 seconds. My apologies for the camera orientation.

 

[spasm3]

Sounds like bad bearings in either the belt idler pulley or tension arm. Listen around the alternator in case its that.


P.S. I think i remember hearing a bad a/c clutch making this noise as well.

You need a mehanics stethoscope.

Look at everything spinning at night with flashlight, look for any wobble in the pulleys.

 

[Warstud]

I'm going to say it's coming from your a/c clutch. But it could be any one of the belt driven components.

 

[mclasser]

Take off the belt and give all the pullies a spin and tug.

 

[silverrat]

Thanks guys, it was the AC compressor.