Oh yes, another one of these "my car's got a strange noise" posts, sorry. I couldn't find anything similar on this though so thought I'd post one. Basically, I've got a really loud screeching whistling noise coming from the engine when it's just warming up (1994 1.1 Punto 55SX). It starts about a couple of minutes after the engine has been started from cold, and continues for a further 5 minutes before going all together. It's worst in mid-range revs, say 2-3500. I had thought for a while that it was my alternator or alternator drivebelt, but recently had the alternator changed so that was that one eliminated. It seems to be coming from the belt area, so could it be the timing belt? I'm not sure when it was last replaced (car's done 70k miles now), but a rough inspection doesn't seem to reveal any problems, no cracks, burns, scrapes, generally anything nasty. In addition there doesn't seem to be any oil on the belt or any of the pulleys. So I'm quite baffled. I've been given suggestions about things like the tensioner (seems a favourite), but I'm not quite sure. Looking in the good old Haynes manual it tells me whistly noises can be caused by blown exhaust manifolds or head gaskets on their way out, but I find this hard to believe in this case.
If anyone has had any similar problems and managed to discover any remedies I'd be most appreciative to hear of them!
Cheers,
Dave

timing belt tenshioner sound right to me, not hard or expensive comes in a kit with new belt,

either the above as dave says or, i had this on my mk1 60sx, if its coming from the housing down the left side of the engine i.e near the belts, chances are at them revs you are talking about its probably your water pump, mine was whistling for months, once its warmed up it stops, nothing really to worry about, your engine will still turn the pump. about £20-25 quid for the part, say £40 to fit.

I had this same problem about two weeks ago.

After the car being in the garage for 4 days, they finally tracked it down to the cam belt tensioner.

The part cost £16 but the total bill was £90. The car was in for a long time because it would only make then noise when it was warming up and they had to wait a long time to let it cool down properly.

They did think it could be the alternator or water pump but they tested those and they were fine.

So glad to be rid of that awful noise. Nobody stares as I drive past now!

Go on, be brave, get that tensioner renewed then tell us we were all right!!!!

Nice one, cheers for that. I'll run the engine without the cambelt cover on (I assume I can do this, problem is the timing sensor is attached to it) and see if I can track the noise down a bit further. I've never done a cambelt before so should be entertaining for numerous reasons. They stress in the Haynes manual (bible) that it should be tensioned properly by a Fiat garage, but that sounds awfully like money spending, and after having replaced the rear wiper motor, the rear wiper, the alternator, the sump, the front brake hoses and a big service on it in the last month, I ain't too keen on the expenditure jobby!
Cheers again for the help, if you come up with any more ideas please do post em!

Just to keep you updated, got the car in the Fiat garage this afternoon, had tensioner and cambelt replaced. £95 later, whistly punto is no more, hurrah!
Cheers again for the advice,
Dave

sounds like thtas what mine needs too!

Although i used to hope someone had put me a turbo on overnight and that noise was it spinning up........oh well!

mine was the same from cold it whined like a dog on heat until youd drove it about 10mins then all went quiet it was the cam belt tensioner cost me 100 quid for new belt tensioner and fitting but all wells now quiet as anything