3.5 V6 Engine - Cold Start Squeal

[Riick]

This is a 2005 Avalon with the 3.5 litre V6 engine

I'm getting a squeal / dry bearing noise (?) on cold start, goes away once engine warms up.
I've been hearing it since temperatures have begun to fall below maybe 50 in the morning.
Car has very low miles (18,000±)
Anyone else with this 3.5 V6 and similar noises?
Just wondering if there is any pattern with this motor so I can shorten diagnosis.

Thanks !!

[gdanaher]

This is a new issue here. I would suspect the water pump first, but you need to stethoscope the engine to find the source. Might also be the alternator bearings. With mileage so low, it obviously sits a lot, so moving surfaces might rust up.

[Frodo65]

Originally Posted by Riick

This is a 2005 Avalon with the 3.5 litre V6 engine

I'm getting a squeal / dry bearing noise (?) on cold start, goes away once engine warms up.
I've been hearing it since temperatures have begun to fall below maybe 50 in the morning.
Car has very low miles (18,000±)
Anyone else with this 3.5 V6 and similar noises?
Just wondering if there is any pattern with this motor so I can shorten diagnosis.

Thanks !!

I'd also check out the belt - a cold belt can slip and squeal, esp. if there's a load on it. Belt tensioner is also a possible suspect.

[JohnGD]

Listen around the belt drive area. Be careful of moving engine parts and loose clothing.

[BlackCamSe]

Sounds like a alternator to me. My friends jeep did the same thing when cold and we replaced the alternator. Fixed the noise

[Glenn8963]

Originally Posted by Riick

This is a 2005 Avalon with the 3.5 litre V6 engine

I'm getting a squeal / dry bearing noise (?) on cold start, goes away once engine warms up.
I've been hearing it since temperatures have begun to fall below maybe 50 in the morning.
Car has very low miles (18,000±)
Anyone else with this 3.5 V6 and similar noises?
Just wondering if there is any pattern with this motor so I can shorten diagnosis.

Thanks !!

you need to eliminate where it is coming from. remove the belts. let the car sit over night. next day, open hood, and spin the individual accessories by hand. what squeals is the problem. if nothing squealed, then suspect a glazed over belt, replace it and properly tighten/adjust it.

[toan30]

I had the same issue on my wifes 2008 sienna. It turned out to be a defective accessory belt idler pulley. As i was told this is a known issue. Toyota replaced the idler pulleys and the belt at no charge.

[Riick]

Originally Posted by toan30

I had the same issue on my wifes 2008 sienna. It turned out to be a defective accessory belt idler pulley. As i was told this is a known issue. Toyota replaced the idler pulleys and the belt at no charge.

Thanks fo the diagnostic heads-up; appreciate it!
?Was the Sienna still under warranty? Reading the extended warranty I have from Toyota, they only cover lubricated parts.

Idler pulleys don't look too hard to get to, but there are three. Will need to get my rubber-hose stereoscope out.

Actually, more probably will try to live with it until the weather warms up, then install new serpentine belt. Turning each by hand will probably reveal which idlers are bad - hopefully only one.
I noticed there is a push for a certain Goodyear belt; Gatorback ???
What's the special reason for using that one?

[toan30]

Yes the work was covered under warranty. I believe it was actually a TSB that covered it. They said the idler pulleys were the weak link and Toyota knew about it. If your car is a 2005 the powertrain factory warranty is for 5 yrs or 60,000 miles so you might still be covered either way. I have had no more trouble since they replaced the parts. I hope this helps.