The Grocery Grabber Decided it Hates the Cold

"Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
01/07/2015 at 22:46 • Filed to: None

Within the past week, the Grocery Grabber, which I wrote about in my last post, has decided it hates the cold as much as I do! The temperatures in the past week have been hovering around 0ºF, but ranged from -15ºF to -30ºF with windchill (Thanks Wisconsin!) and the Lexus is not happy about it.

The RX330 has been driven to moaning in freezing agony whenever it's started. More alarmingly, it continues to moan even when the engine is up to normal operating temperature. However, it is a quieter volume than when it is first started. I'm thinking that a belt is causing the sound since the pitch increases with revs. Also, the belts would obviously not warm up at the same speed as the rest of the engine because they're exposed to the air, which would explain why the sound doesn't go away completely when the engine is warm. I do not have an expansive knowledge of how car engines work (this will hopefully be fixed by my autos class next semester) so I am just hypothesizing at this point. I linked a video that I recorded this afternoon so you can experience the wailing Lexus for yourself! It sat outside for 7 hours in -30ºF with windchill.

I do give the Lexus credit; it started like it was 50º outside. Out of precaution, we're taking it to our mechanic to get it checked out. Unfortunately, one of our other cars is currently there so the Lexus will have to wait until that one returns. For now, I'll just tell people that the Grocery Grabber is supercharged.

Here is the piece I wrote about the Lexus that I mentioned in the beginning of this post:

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DISCUSSION (15)

Takuro Spirit > Michael Woyahn
01/07/2015 at 22:50

I blame Toyota. My Camry is LOUD (but sounds good, like, throaty good) when cold. Yours sounds like a power steering type noise. Does it change in pitch when you turn the wheel, especially at full lock?

BTW, where in our wonderfully cold state are you located?

dogisbadob > Michael Woyahn
01/07/2015 at 22:51

Does it get louder at higher rpm? It sounds like alternator whine.

But 195k certainly isn't bad!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Michael Woyahn
01/07/2015 at 22:56

Oh lawd, that is loud.

Sounds a little like my wife's Sable's power steering pump a few years ago

JGrabowMSt > Michael Woyahn
01/07/2015 at 22:58

That's a weird sound. Maybe it speaks whale and is trying to send an important message.

I have to say though, I can see where Takuro is coming from, it absolutely could be a failing power steering pump or rack.

Two biggest questions I would have:

Does it leave any puddles when it sits overnight?

Like Takuro asked, does the sound change at all when you turn the steering wheel?

Michael Woyahn > Takuro Spirit
01/07/2015 at 22:59

I'm in Southeastern Wisconsin. It could be the power steering. When I pulled out of the spot today, it definitely got louder, but I think that had more to do with accelerating as I was leaving. I'll definitely have to pay attention to how it sounds when I steer tomorrow, though! I know the car has made noises at full lock since I first learned how to drive in it, which a year and a half ago, but those seem to be different than the noises it's making now. I guess we won't know what's happening for sure until the mechanic looks at it!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Michael Woyahn
01/07/2015 at 23:02

My 4Runner's power steering pump did that when it was cold/low on fluid. Have you checked the PS fluid level?

Michael Woyahn > dogisbadob
01/07/2015 at 23:05

Yes, it definitely gets louder as the rpms get higher. It also seems like it gets higher pitched too. I'm certainly not complaining about getting to 195k! The car has given us a little trouble, though. It needed a seal replaced in the rear differential, the radiator cracked and it needed to be replaced, the wheel bearings were replaced when we first got it, and the transmission has been on it's way out for awhile. Of course, there's what it's doing now, which could be a problem. I still think that this is nothing compared to what other luxury cars could throw at us with that many miles!

Michael Woyahn > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
01/07/2015 at 23:08

I have not. I'll definitely check this! Hopefully it's just cold, but we'll see. Thanks for the suggestion, I would have never thought of this!

Michael Woyahn > JGrabowMSt
01/07/2015 at 23:14

Haha all we need is a translator! It does not leave puddles when it sits. The closest thing to that happened this summer, but the leak was from a seal in the rear differential so it wasn't connected to the steering at that point. Looking back to when I left the spot that I filmed the video at, it did get louder when I pulled out, but I was also accelerating at the same time so I'm not 100% sure about that. I'll have to do a couple of laps around a parking lot without accelerating to see if the noise changes. I could probably also try and turn the wheel in park too, but laps are more exciting!

Takuro Spirit > Michael Woyahn
01/07/2015 at 23:27

Me too, today was just killer cold. Lots of cars making weird noises... Can't wait for the snow tomorrow!

Michael Woyahn > Takuro Spirit
01/07/2015 at 23:32

Seriously! My face went numb walking from my car into my school and that walk was maybe a only minute long. I'm hoping the noise is just because of the cold, but we'll see. I'm pumped for the snow too! It's about time we get more considering we didn't have any snow for basically all of December. I really missed having a white Christmas.

Takuro Spirit > Michael Woyahn
01/07/2015 at 23:37

At least we had a White Thanksgiving.

I made the mistake of going out this afternoon to help my driver load his van.... 30 seconds outside and I thought my face and hands were going to fall the fuck off.

Textured Soy Protein > Michael Woyahn
01/07/2015 at 23:38

I'm in Madison. So far my Grand Cherokee has been behaving in the cold, but it's -6 out right now and my furnace is groaning some. It doesn't sound too happy. Still blowing hot air though.

Michael Woyahn > Takuro Spirit
01/07/2015 at 23:50

Very true. At least we got a little snow before Christmas. That sounds awful! Once I made it in the school, it took me a good 10 minutes to warm up and feel human again. Thank god it's supposed to warm up a little bit tomorrow afternoon. In my area, we're supposed to have a high of 8! What a heat wave! At least it's not the -50° we had last year.

Michael Woyahn > Textured Soy Protein
01/07/2015 at 23:55

As long as it's still working, that's all that matters! Whether it's cars or furnaces, I don't think there are many things that would be happy sitting outside tonight.