APU6speed

I have a 2000 GS 400 with about 44,000 miles. This morning after I started the car I heard a high pitch whining noise coming from the engine. It got louder as I stepped on the gas. I let the car warm up and after driving it for about 5-10 minutes, the noise quieted down. The noise completely disappeared when I got to work 15 minutes later. The whine sounded just like the noise my old Honda Accord made when the water pump went bad. Could this be the same thing? 44,000 miles seems early for the water pump to go bad.

Also, its been raining in S. Cal. for the past couple of days (first rain in at least 6 months) and last night it got colder than normal. Do you guys think the weather is causing the belts to create noise until the engine warms up? I haven't started the car since this morning since I'm still at work, so I don't know if the sound will occur again.

Thanks,
Mike

VVT-i

Sound like you need a new drive belt( V-belt), or you can try to spray the drive belt with Silicon spray/lubrication. This trick will help for awhile.

RTIS250

iTrader: (9)

yeah, it sounds like your accessory drive belt. you should have it looked at and replaced. if you want a cheap fix, simple wd40 sprayed onto the ribbed surface of the belt will get rid of the noise temporarily. what ive done in the past, and i dont recommend you doing, is touching the ribbed section of the belt with a wire brush, while the engine is running. this cleans debris from the belt surface, this will usually also eliminate the noise, but is not a recommended method.

LexRexBlue

Your noise sounds similar to the one I had for months. I could hear the noise when the engine was cold. It was the transmission, so if you still have a warranty be persistant and get it checked. They even drove my car and it shifted fine, but it was the early stages of the transmission.