Whining from CVT in cold...

[mrkcohen]

Has anybody else encountered this yet?

It was cold enough yesterday morning, right around 6 degrees F, that my 12V starter engaged for the first time. It startled me, but it's much quieter than the one on my 2003 HCH.

I only let the car warm up for 30 seconds or so as usual, I hate wasting fuel, and drove the car very gingerly until it warmed up completely, again like I always do.

When I came to the first stop sign I heard a whining that sounded like it was coming from the CVT. It reminded me of the noise you would hear from a hydraulic power steering pump that is low on fluid or going bad. The noise repeated the next time I came to a stop but went away when the car was sufficiently warmed up. And the noise was only present when I was slowing to a stop.

This morning it was even colder, around -2 degrees F, but the car started with the IMA motor, probably because I took it for a ride late last night, and I let the car warm up for a good ten minutes this morning. The noise didn't repeat.

I will be letting the car warm up longer when it's below 10 degrees or so, but I was just wondering if anybody else has heard this noise from the CVT in the bitter cold?

[Jayemtee]

I haven't gotten below 25 degrees and have not heard the sound.

Have you checked your CVT fluid level? What color is the fluid? Did the sound vary in pitch with car speed or with engine speed?

[moorea]

I haven't noticed it yet. It's been pretty cold out here the last few days (-8 to 10 degrees F in the morning). I'll keep an ear out for it though.