Cold weather start - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Brucelee · 03-10-2005, 05:58 AM

Back in NE, I heard this sound from several cars that I owned. It seemed to be normal, I assumed as a result of having to crank a cold engine with heavy oil vs. what we here in CA are used to.

Are you using 0W-40 Mobil 1 over there?

tomatjs · 03-10-2005, 12:09 PM

I live in NE, but never have experienced such a sound, even in the dead middle of the winter like now. Maybe something happened during the ocean voyage?

Perfectlap · 03-10-2005, 12:50 PM

After a while of cold weather I hear a belt squeal on start up.
Yesterday the Porsche dealer in my area did a top to bottom inspection of everything and other than a wheel alignment found nothing wrong.
I asked about the squeal and a very raspy uneven exhaust sound
he said "when its below freezing it just makes noises that it doesn't when its warm,nothing unusual"
I guess I'll have to take his word for it, one the best dealer service departments in the northeast.
A McLaren SLR pulled into the hangar sized garage and the attendant told me the dealership was getting two of the four that were being imported in the US.

YellowJacket · 03-14-2005, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

After a while of cold weather I hear a belt squeal on start up.
I asked about the squeal and a very raspy uneven exhaust sound
he said "when its below freezing it just makes noises that it doesn't when its warm,nothing unusual"

I also had the squeal and my dealer replaced my belt and all pulleys to try to curtail it. 2 months later, I am still getting the squeal on cold startup (30 degrees or below pretty much). My dealer said he'll adjust the tension next time I'm in for service as the new belt may have stretched.

Anyway, if this is in fact a normal cost of cold weather, then I got a free belt and pulleys for nothing! That's exciting, as I think I would have replaced them at my 60k service (17k miles from now) anyway! And that would have NOT been warrantied.

pez · 03-14-2005, 01:55 PM

Take this for what it's worth but if I remember correctly when the boxster starts up in the colder weather the air pump kicks in to reduce the start up emissions, and that noise is pump running for the first 15-30 sec after a cold start. However your description of the squeal sounds like it might something else.

-pez