I have a weird sound coming from the engine bay and I can't seem to figure out what it is... I've checked all the drive belts and conditioned them and they are all fine. But I have this sqeaky/grindy/annoying sound at startup. It only does it for like a second then it will stop, but it's often loud and kind of embarrassing. It doesn't affect the drive ability of the car, but I just want it to stop.

You can hear it in this video as the starter is turning the engine over, and RIGHT after the engine starts. It sounds kind of like it continues, but it's only right at the beginning. Anyone know what it might be?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iytzacTFLn8

 

could be possibly hydraulic lifter noise, mine does the same thing when i first start it up in the morning. I know for sure mine is the lifters and only makes the sound for a second or two until the oil pump gets the oil up to the top of the engine, kinda sounds like chattering.

 

Could it be your starter pinion gear? My sounded similar when the engine just started, for approx 1 sec or less. Easy to check - try to move your key to 'Start' while engine is running for very short time - if the sound is the same then you found the problem. In my case it needed cleanup and re- grease but the gear was still fine so it didn't need a replacement. I could see about 2 mm out of 15 or so of teeth edges were worn out. It still runs fine 1 year after.

 

I concur with the starter suggestion. Our starter made this same noise, except it wouldn't start, it just ground like that. Turns out the pinion gear hung up on the shaft a second, allowing the starter to spin too fast for the gear to mesh with the ring gear on the flywheel. Sounds like yours is hanging up when it should be releasing. Take it out (it's right under the front bumper, one bolt, one nut a connector and it's out) and take it in for a test. I've had good luck with an Autolite rebuilt I got at Schucks and it cured this.