96 cavalier 2.2 i get in to go to the store and start it and right when i started in the process of it cranking heard the squeaking noise once started it stopped. then i revved it up and it didnt as soon a i left off the gas as the rpms went down. i listened to the pullleys with the stethascope and heard it from the water pump not growling just sqeaking. so i went to the dealer since they are 1/4 mile from my house once i got there it wasnt doing it anymore .waterpump now sounds fine not leaking pulley has no play. it hasnt been started for 2 days until today and its very humid. it sounded simillar to a belt but a little whinney . any ideas? thanks guys.

i had that noise with my 96 and ended up being the steering pump

well on mine you could hear it dead set on the water pump . but i was thinking maybe it was the belt because of dew on the engine from condensation or whatever. car hasnt been started in a few days and stopped doing it when the car warmed up. i thoungt maybe the reason i heard it on the pump was because its a smooth pully vs grooved. so if the belt had moisture i assumed a smooth pully would be more noticable of it. basically i guess what i want to know is if a bearing is bad in th waterpump wouldnt it make noise all the time? not just when engine cold or warm. it isnt leeking from the wheep hole and the car isnt overheating. just weird .these damn cavaliers make some strange noises clicks pops rattles ticks ect ect but they are tough.