# My car is whining in the morning

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-is-whining-in-the-morning/50331>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** echo, toyota\
**Created:** [June 14, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-is-whining-in-the-morning/50331 "2010-06-14T20:45:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![little\_momi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/da6949/32.png) [@little\_momi](https://community.cartalk.com/u/little_momi)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-is-whining-in-the-morning/50331/1 "2010-06-14T20:45:04Z")

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Dear Car Talk Guys-  
  
  
  
 I have a 2000 Toyota Echo Sedan with 120,000 or so miles on it. Aside from replacing the clutch, battery and tires over the life of the car I have had no problems. My husband and I recently moved from New Mexico to Kansas after being there 5 years. My car, once I moved here was squealing and the shop i took it to said I had cracked belts and replace them a little less than a year ago. Most recently, when I start it up in the morning, the car whines or sounds like an “EEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIEEEEE” sound as it warms up. Since it is rural KS, I have not put more than 500 miles on it in a year. Could it be a belt problem again so soon?  
  
  
  
 Do you have any suggestions before I get bamboozled at the shop with a bunch of costly repairs?

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**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-is-whining-in-the-morning/50331/2 "2010-06-14T20:58:46Z")

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I guess she’s jut not a morning person 🙂

It could be a belt squeal so soon and not be the fault of the new belt.

A problem with belt tension is possible. A spring loaded tensioner that is bad or an ajustable tensioner that needs re-set. ( in the old days of bolt adjust tensioners they very often needed to be re-adjusted after the belts ‘‘wore in’’ )

An accessory that the belt drives which is binding at start up, but loosening as it warms.  
Alternator, power steering, water pump, tensioner & idler pulleys would all be suspect.

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**Author:** ![little\_momi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/da6949/32.png) [@little\_momi](https://community.cartalk.com/u/little_momi)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-is-whining-in-the-morning/50331/3 "2010-06-14T21:00:56Z")

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Thank you!