I have a 2001 Civic LX automatic that whines (similar to R2D2 from Star
Wars getting shot across a room) at the first start of the day and then
goes away after about 5 minutes of driving. I took to a dealer, who
said they checked the belts, but that they looked fine and that the
starter needed to be replaced. I had that replaced and low and behold
the car started easier, but the the whine was still there at the first
start of the day. I took it back and they were "guessing" it was the
transmission, but the car does not jolt or handle abruptly when the car
is accelerating or down shifting- it is as smooth as the day I bought
it and I have followed the maintenance schedule on the trans. fluid
flushes.

I took it to another dealer, who said they could not find anything
wrong with it. Yet the whining noise persists and has grown a little
longer since I noticed it back in the winter. It did not used to whine
in warmer weather, but it now is.

Has anyone else experienced this whining noise at first start or have
any suggestions as to what it might be (I'm not buying the transmission
"guess"- car only has 60K on it and like I said, there's been no
problems at all in the shifting).

Your assistance would be most appreciated.