Growling noise from my engine

I have a 2000 ZTS and now that the weather is getting colder, I've found that my engine makes an obnoxious growling noise every time I start it up in the morning. After I drive for a while it goes away. Any ideas? I've had the car for a year and it didn't do this last winter.

Also, the serpentine belt makes a squeaking noise that about a month ago a dealer told me was caused by a leak in the steering pump. I never got it fixed because he wanted to charge me nearly $600 to replace and install it. He didn't make it sound like a serious problem but thought I'd mention it here too for any input. I'm not a 'car guy' and don't want to get ripped off.

Thanks!

my cars exaust always sounds deeper and meaner till it heats up, and the belt might be the belt going bad how many miles?

The car has about 55000 miles

might be time for a belt, they seem to go around 60k

you know the oil in your car does thiken when its cold outside and your engine hasnt been running and it hasnt had time to warm it up...if this sound doesnt go away when the car heats up well then im wrong lol

I had this same problem on my 01 Zx3 and it turned out the serpentine belt tensioner was bad and destroyed the belt in the process. This was at 25k! Dealer replaced all parts under warranty though.

Steering pumps get noisy when cold too, (and especially if the fluid is low) make sure the fluid is topped off.

yes the power steering can be loud but that is a typical ford noise i have had 5 fords and they all have load power steering