Odd noise

Hi everyone can I pick your brains?

My 2000(W) plate Jimny SOHC is making an odd noise when I first start it up from cold. I will try and upload a video tonight but to describe the noise it's very similar to that of a car with very low power steering fluid, but it is not continuous. It lasts for about a second and occurs every 2 or three seconds but only for a few minutes. If I ignore it and drive away the noise stops before I get to the end of the road and I do not hear it again until I start the Jimny again from cold.

I stuck my head under the bonnet and it appears to be coming from the alternator but it's difficult to tell so it may not be. There are no other signs of alternator problems such as dim lights etc. I checked the belt it's not too slack and there is no obvious damage to it.

Because of the nature of the sound I checked the power steering fluid and it was low (just above the minimum mark), so I topped this up. It made a big difference to the steering but hasn't fixed the noise.

Anyone have any ideas of what it could be? I've heard countless sounds on Youtube of cars starting up with bad alternator bearings and mine doesn't sound anyhting like this, but they might not all sound the same. I could change the alternator, but with no obvious signs of it not functioning properly it may be a waste of money. I can live with an occasional noise, but I'm worried it's a warning of a bigger problem to come...

Anyway, thanks for reading and I'll try and get some sound up tonight.

first check the tightness of the belts one may be lose or to tight or take the belts off and start it if no noise you no its to do with the belts then put one back on at a time if the noise is the when a belt is put on the id replace the belt let us no how you get on

Thanks for that I'll give it a try.

I noticed that you're from Pembury I think I've seen you parked up during the week in Tonbridge a few times.

yer i work in tonbridge in one of the garages around where you see my car parked if you get stuck and your local i can alway help out

Most likely it is just belt tension as said already.

My Nissan sounds like a handful of stones rattling round in and old can on the first start of the day if it has been raining. Soon goes as the belt dries out.

On my SOHC, l had a noise which sounded like a dry alternator bearing, turn out to be a dry hard alternator belt and the fan + P.S. belt want much better so l replace both of them.
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