a loud whining/howling sound at start up when it’s really cold outside

[liftedgm1982]

Well, I said it must be a "Ram thing" because I have had 4 Ford 150 trucks (3 V8s and one Ecoboost) living in exactly the same house with the exact same seasons and never once did the F150s screech, whine or howl on start up in the cold like the three 4th generation Ram 1500s have. So, to me, that defines a "Ram thing". Oh yeah, my wife's Toyotas have never done it either. Have you watched the video that was posted at the beginning of this thread? There's no way that should be any type of "normal" sound. The only thing you said that makes sense, and I agree with, is the very last sentence...."Air moisture content". I appreciate the comment nonetheless.

It's really hard to tell what exactly the sound is from the video because it was taken on a cell phone (I assume), and I listened to it on my cell phone. All I'm saying is that almost every single one of my vehicles (including my 2013 F150 ecoboost) makes some sort of "unique" noise upon VERY cold startups. Not all of them, but most of them. The fact that it goes away within a few seconds would tell me it's probably a non issue.
Funny enough, I don't recall my wife's Toyota ever making any noises either, but then again, I don't have nearly the same amount of seat time in it.


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[Demon-HeMi]

It's absolutely not "a Ram thing", nor is it an "issue" that needs a diagnosis. It's mechanical parts that sit in below freezing conditions. Then you start your truck. Engine revs to what? 1500ish RPMS? You're talking about metal AND rubber AND plastic moving parts. You don't expect any sort of noises/groans? You know why it's sporadic? Air moisture content.



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i couldn't agree more, both my 4th gens made some kind of noise on cold mornings, all of my 3rd gens do as well, my old 2013 charger used to make some funny noises when you started the car when cold, as said above, you take any motor whether it be big or small, electric or not, it will make some kind of noise until it warms up to its comfort level, hell my 12v power converter in my garage make a whine/hum noise when its cold in my garage until it warms itself up, and there isn't one moving part in it, i personally wouldn't worry about it unless a sound like that doesn't stop happening, you wana hear weird sounds, drive a stick, they make all kinds of whines clunks and noises haha


pretty much if the sound goes away, just assume its everything trying to come up to temperature and truck on peoples

 

[Sir John]

i personally wouldn't worry about it unless a sound like that doesn't stop happening

I don't disagree with this statement. I rather it not do it, but since it has happened on all 3 of my 4th generations, I'm less concerned about it now then I used to be. But, if they come out with a fix, like they did on the 3.6 Pentastar (which makes the EXACT same sound) then I'm getting it fixed for sure. See the pics below. If you watched the videos (like I did) for the 3.6 Pentastar cold start noise, then you will see it's the same exact noise!

 

[Demon-HeMi]

I don't disagree with this statement. I rather it not do it, but since it has happened on all 3 of my 4th generations, I'm less concerned about it now then I used to be. But, if they come out with a fix, like they did on the 3.6 Pentastar (which makes the EXACT same sound) then I'm getting it fixed for sure. See the pics below. If you watched the videos (like I did) for the 3.6 Pentastar cold start noise, then you will see it's the same exact noise!

they did that on my 2013 3 weeks ago, still makes the noise on cold mornings...

never trust them lol

 

[Sir John]

they did that on my 2013 3 weeks ago, still makes the noise on cold mornings...

never trust them lol

Really?.....on a 3.6 Pentastar engine? It made that same noise as you see in my video??

 

[Demon-HeMi]

mine isnt that loud but it does make a similar noise

 

[hoe...]

My guess is belt slipping over frozen idler pulley.

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[Cardhu]

x2 with above.

try a new serpentine belt and tensioner. Had good luck with gates in previous vehicles. While you have the belt off check if any of the pulley are wobbling and free to spin, like a water pump for example.

Relatively inexpensive to try and worth having a spare. 21 and 38 bucks respectively on RA. Can even go cheaper.

Noise does sound like distortion in an amp. Even if you had powersteering that noise isn't even close to the PS pump groan.

I assume when you plug in your block heater you still get that noise on cold start?

 

[yohan]

I get this too ... sub zero cold starts with my 2013 pentastar. It goes away, im not fussed about it.

 

[CVX20]

I have this on my 15 5.7 with approx 13 k miles on it.First time I heard it I immediately thought idler or tensioner brg.I 've heard it on higher mileage vehicles but didn't expect it on a new vehicle.Only heard it a couple of times in a year and a half so I'm not too concerned.

 

[XtremeAbuse]

my 2015 ram 5.7 makes the same noise when it's cold out been doing it since new
dealer tells me it's normal for it to do that when cold out and said a lot of other mopars have same problem
i was told even if they change belt and tensioner it will still do it
they say there is no fix for it at this time

 

[Dark Knight 500]

My 2017 1500 with the 5.7L hemi makes the same noise so I did some poking and found this video. I know it’s a ford, but I’m wondering if we are all experiencing the same source of the noise on our hemis [emoji848][emoji2369]




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[chrisbh17]

Mine does this. Its not a loud screeching but a low pitched groan. No rhyme or reason, though...Ive let the truck sit a week in freezing cold weather, next startup was fine. let the truck sit 2 days in the same temp weather, next startup is groans.

I think its one of the idler pulleys, or in my case possibly even my A/C compressor (since it whines when its running, like in the summer). Of course, "normal characteristic" per the dealer.

 

[CVX20]

my 2015 ram 5.7 makes the same noise when it's cold out been doing it since new
dealer tells me it's normal for it to do that when cold out and said a lot of other mopars have same problem
i was told even if they change belt and tensioner it will still do it
they say there is no fix for it at this time

I know this is an old post but I had to reply.If the dealer replaced the tensioner with the same factory one with the same ****** Chinese bearing in it you will get the same results.*****.

 

[ChrisWilliams]

I know with fords this is an issue with bad alternator bearings and it’ll only do it when cold when the vehicle warms up it goes away. Can’t attest for the Ram, but the noise is identical. Take off your sepertine belt and start the truck and see if it makes the noise.

 

[mjmcg]

It's absolutely not "a Ram thing", nor is it an "issue" that needs a diagnosis. It's mechanical parts that sit in below freezing conditions. Then you start your truck. Engine revs to what? 1500ish RPMS? You're talking about metal AND rubber AND plastic moving parts. You don't expect any sort of noises/groans? You know why it's sporadic? Air moisture content.



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If this be plausible then explain to me when my truck is in a parking lot at work where 600 other vehicles are parked including tens of other ram trucks exactly like mine are but mine is the only one making this noise when starting... Odd how temps and air moisture only affect mine.

 

[Curmudgeon]

If this be plausible then explain to me when my truck is in a parking lot at work where 600 other vehicles are parked including tens of other ram trucks exactly like mine are but mine is the only one making this noise when starting... Odd how temps and air moisture only affect mine.

Well, next time park next to my truck and they'll do it in stereo.

My 2014 5.7L does it too. I bought it used from a dealer in July 2017 with 20k miles, but the first cold morning I heard the squeal/whistle. It's still doing it at 122k miles and I have no idea what it is. It usually only makes the noise for the first 15 seconds at most.

 

[crackerjack1957]

You guys try a better belt like the

Gates K060730HD​

 

[Curmudgeon]

You guys try a better belt like the

Gates K060730HD​

Well, for me anyway, it's not a belt type of noise at all. Also, none of the belts or pulleys have been replaced, they are all factory.

Every part of my truck is factory except fluids, brakes, tires, exhaust manifolds, and a fuel level sending unit.

Mine sounds exactly like a whistle, only when it's fairly cold, not all the time, and only last about 10-15 seconds.