Perhaps you could post the video of the sound it's making? From my experience low power steering sounds raspy and loud...kind of like rocks in a blender or rocks being thrown through a fan. I can't imagine you would be driving with a sound like that.

That being said, our engines do sound loud and rackety when started in the cold. There are a number of systems which need to warm up before they quiet down, but more importantly, the engine hangs around ~1500 revs to help warm up faster.

 

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High pitched whine at that temperature is the grill shutter servo motors. Tomorrow morning when you start your car (because I'm sure it will be that cold again) immediately run to the front and look through your grill and you'll likely see the sound coincides with the movement of the grill shutters.

 

^+1 this.

However, for me, it didn't happen only twice in the life of the car. I had wash the car before the night and in the morning it was cold. It never happened to my car even when it was -31°C outside (-24°F).

 

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It still doesn't sound normal to me - I can't imagine why the servo motors would be making noise for 5 minutes (nonstop?)

If you can, try to upload a video to youtube and send us the link!

 

If they are covered in Ice it might be preventing them from doing their thing.

 

Mine does this on very cold mornings as well. The consensus is grill shutters but I don't think anyone has been able to 100% prove it. It just makes the most sense. It usually doesn't last longer than a minute tops. Not 5 by any means though.

 

Yes. Either that 5 minutes was exaggerated or he has a completely different issue. You can 100% prove it is or isn't the grill shutters by watching them move and how the noise coincides exactly with their movement. I've 100% proven it on my own car anyway.

 

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heres a link to my video.......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ip90BG0e88&feature=youtu.be

Yep, same sound here.

 

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I confirm this sound is like the shudder grill, maybe greasing it would help a little bit ?

 

100% grill shutters. Take a peek through the opening under the license plate next time you start it. It hasn't caused issues so far, but I think Ford should do something about this.

 

Same sound for me but ONLY if I hold the RPM to 2000 precisely until the engine is warmed up!

Don't worry about it!

 

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Yeah, I'm super curious to see what they do about it. I've always found it annoying and a dumb thing for a new car to do.

 

Please keep the thread updated for us. I feel like all my neighbors look at me like I don't know how to keep my car maintained. It's more embarrassing than anything.

 

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yes been there at my ford dealer a couple of time they kept it 2 times over night and change the belt tigh but it was not that it continues to do so I was told by a service person at my ford dealer sound is normal they all do mine does to then I put video up on youtube and gave link to another service guy there I know after he viewed the video he called me and said nope that sound not normal bring car in and they sent my link to ford trouble tech ,some ppl say its the grill shutter other trans velo oil to cold others say crank shaft i'm lost ?I have 42460k on it but I have to say ford dealer here they work hard for there customer they have lenders so no car renting plus the service is amazing always been there for me except for this issue its not there fault.It shows they are trying hard to help me with this issue so Hawkesbury Ford have a great after sale service believe me..they go the extra mile.But my problem is the cold weather is over and if they don't find the trouble ??? because warranty is over pretty soon what will I do after that.

Just came across this, desa62. Please disregard my previous message here: http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/mk3-focus/541554-my-focus-cold-start-up-noise-4.html#post8090306

Send me a private message with your full name, phone number, and VIN; I'll loop in your regional customer service manaqer (CSM) for additional assistance and resolutions.

Nikki
Ford Service CA

 

Here is a link to my cold start at -18.OxyGenIII Arctic Start Up: http://youtu.be/Wa0aQx0x02Y

 

I should state, no noises like yours. It has wistled once or twice very slightly on even colder days but thats it.

 

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Well guy's they think they found were the sound comes from---------air cond pully in between its all rusted so when its v.cold it squeekes hard but I will know only next winter for sure they took it apart and there was so much rust hope ford will honor there warranty if my prob isn't fixe ps:shutter grill was check no prob there its fine.thank you.

Hmm, very strange. That might be my issue as well. It certainly does sound like some kind of metallic spinning noise. Seems pretty silly that rust is an issue, but hopefully that fixes it. Thanks for updating us. If you find out anything else interesting let us know.

 

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Clutch pulley & A/C compressor are two separate parts, no reason to replace something not broken.

Better to leave that sealed system alone as long as it's working properly, replacing good parts always adds the possibility of fresh pieces or their installation being worse than what's currently just fine.

 

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hi i'm new here I have this trouble with my focus 2012 only below the -20c I get a bad sound from motor like an empty power steering fluid sound or a empty trans fluid but its not I know its elec steering.ford garage tought it was my belt tigt they changed it still making that sound now they say oh this sound is normal I don't like that sound it stays for a good 5min remember only from below -0c and up I made a video 2.0l gas,,automat trans it only does that once in the morning never after once car as warmed up for the first time its ok for the day video here ford dealer said its normal but I don't: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ip90BG0e88&feature=youtu.be

Hey desa62,

Thanks for the information and video. What is the current odometer reading on your Focus? Send that over, along with your preferred dealer; I'll see how to help.

Nikki
Ford Service CA