Another elusive engine noise question Options

[Xander_X]

When the engine is cold, there's a noise coming from the belt area of the engine that kinda sounds like a Ducati clutch. For those of you that don't know this sound ... kind of like a helicopter. As the engine reaches normal operating temp the noise subsides drastically. It's not annoying loud ... more suspiciously and "wtf is it" loud. Anyone ever have this?

FYI: The previous owner said they had just replaced the timing belt, though I haven't checked to see if this statement was true or not. And the belt squeals something fierce when I turn the A/C on and hit the gas for the first 5 seconds (have the new belt, haven't gotten around to changing it yet.)

PS - it also got noticeably louder after replacing the valve cover gasket recently.

Any ideas?

This post has been edited by Xander_X: Oct 3, 2012 - 12:31 PM

[lagos]

I was thinking all of these. Problem is we don't have a garage at our townhouse and I have to find time to drive 40 min to my parents house to use the garage (my tools are there also). I just didn't know if someone else has had a similar issue or if the 5S was known to be a little loud in this area. I haven't been around another 5S in over 12 years (my first car, 91 GT-S) and I didn't know jack about cars then.

You can change the alternator belt in the street. It literally takes about 15min to do.