DuncS3 Posted January 15, 2003 Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 I am sure I read a post on this before, but have any of you noticed your car making a clattery noise, at tickover, just after starting it up? I have only noticed it on 2 occasions in 6 months. Only when I have my driver window open too - what I mean by that is I normally start car up, climate and radio on and I'm on my way. Sounds like a clattery sort of noise, maybe when engine is cold? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3Bangs Posted January 15, 2003 Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 Hi Duncan, After reading a post as u did somewhere on here last week, I tried to to find out if the same happened to mine. When leaving home in the morning, what I normally do is come downstairs, open the front door, open the car, fire it up, go back into kitchen, spend about 5mins in there and its back into the car and off I go.. Now during the cold spell last week... once and only once I must say, I fired the nana up and I thought.. WTF!! sounded clattery and mildly screechy.. As I'd read about it on here, I didnt really bother bout it, but it did sound worrying.. Nonetheless, it hasnt happened again since. One other thing I normally worry about is .. the 5mins + or - I leave the car running in the morning.. Is it harmful or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4dreamer Posted January 15, 2003 Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 I vaguely remember a post about this on AS.net some time ago. I think the answer is that the tappets are lubricated by the oil pumped around the engine. However, when the car's been standing for a while, all of the oil drains away from them, so they clatter until they get their supply back. I noticed this with the S3's at the Buxton meet last year. Made me laugh really, as they're as noisy as my tractor for the first few seconds after starting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncS3 Posted January 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 I think I have read somewhere that you shouldnt warm your car up by just leaving it idling (for too long) first time you start it (not sure where and it could be bollox too) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4dreamer Posted January 15, 2003 Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 I think the manual says you shouldn't warm it up before driving off. I've a vague recollection that Dave posted on this subject a while ago (on the old AS.net) and the problem is something to do with either the injectors or the cylinders getting cakked up because the engine isn't burning fuel efficiently. Unfortunately, I have a memory like a...thingy ...so, the above could be utter bollix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin M Posted January 15, 2003 Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 It's not lack of oil in a hazardous way as there will be a film of oil left, but it is because this engine has hydraulic tappets and until they pressurise fully, the gap is larger and hence "tappety". Tony, you shouldn't idle your car like this except perhaps whilst defrosting. It is bad for it, a waste of fuel and if it gets pinched from outside your house with the keys in it, you will have a very hard job persuading the insurance company to cough up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvers3uk Posted January 15, 2003 Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 The first thing I noticed on my new S3 is the first rate impression of an oil burner at startup. For me, it sounds fairly pants every time I start it up from cold - Maybe because its in a garage it sounds louder. Just turning the excellent stereo up a bit further usually works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat Posted January 16, 2003 Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 Duncan......... Check under your bonner for a few seconds and just make sure you ain't bought a diesel - easy mistake to make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitas3 Posted January 16, 2003 Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 Actually this is an interesting post.. This happens a lot on modern engines with lots of tappets - some cars are louder than others. A collegue owns a Golf V6 4 Motion, and he complained and moaned so much about his noisy tappets on startup that the VW dealer in Camberley actually changed his engine - needless to say this hasn't cured the noise despite us all telling him it was normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncS3 Posted January 16, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 The 1.8T engine sounds like a diesel for sure. Thats why I think the TT V6 will be the model to have. Lots of people seem to be saying, yeah its only 250 bhp and I can get 265 bhp from a chipped 225 - but that sort of bhp difference wont be noticeable. TT owners obviously didnt have the 210-225 thing like the S3 did... V6 EVERYtime please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mramage Posted January 16, 2003 Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 My S3 is booked at the dealers next week for them to have a look at it for this startup noise. I've been told it could be the timing chain adjuster/tensioner. It did it several times over the cold weather recently. When it's loud, it's loud and it really is a WTF was that moment. I've got it on mp3 (digital camera) now, but quality is a bit naff. I also camcordered it (better audio)so I'm going to burn a CD and let the dealer hear it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncS3 Posted January 16, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 let us know how you get on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitas3 Posted January 16, 2003 Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Thats why I think the TT V6 will be the model to have. [/ QUOTE ] The V6 engine is certainly a nice sounding one - gives the impression of power just listening to it. however you'll still have the tappet noise upon cold start!! I'd worry more if it was evident even with the engine running warm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4dreamer Posted January 16, 2003 Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 [ QUOTE ] A collegue owns a Golf V6 4 Motion, and he complained and moaned so much about his noisy tappets on startup that the VW dealer in Camberley actually changed his engine - needless to say this hasn't cured the noise despite us all telling him it was normal. [/ QUOTE ] Interesting, but my wife's 4mo doesn't have this problem (or at least, not so I've noticed), but it's very noticable in S3's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r88per Posted January 16, 2003 Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 [ QUOTE ] My S3 is booked at the dealers next week for them to have a look at it for this startup noise. I've been told it could be the timing chain adjuster/tensioner. It did it several times over the cold weather recently. [/ QUOTE ] My S3 is booked into the dealers next Monday (20/01/03) definately sounds like the same diagnosis. It only does it when its been left overnight and the engine is very cold. My mate works for VAG and said it definately sounds like "dry" pullies / tensioners. He said they have a few come in now and again to have them changed. A guy at work also had the same problem on his A4 1.8T company car, they changed the timing belt and tensioner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted January 17, 2003 Report Share Posted January 17, 2003 [ QUOTE ] fatcat Member of joy Reged: 03/08/02 Posts: 1211 Loc: Eastern fringe of the Tdi empire Re: clattery noise on startup (sometimes) #12557 - 16/01/03 08:11 AM Edit Reply Quote Duncan......... Check under your bonner for a few seconds and just make sure you ain't bought a diesel - easy mistake to make. -------------------- 02 A3 130 Tdi Quattro Sport Ming Blue 18'' RSTT's [/ QUOTE ] So THATS your excuse..........!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mramage Posted January 22, 2003 Report Share Posted January 22, 2003 An update on this. I got a better recording using the camcorder and the Audi Tech. had a listen today. He thinks it's probably the timing chain adjuster, but it needs to do it more often before they can do something about it. Apparently Audi say it's "normal" so long as the noise goes away within 10 seconds. The Tech. was somewhat more realistic, stating that if it does it on most starts they can justify replacing it, but they need to hear it first hand. It is getting a little more often now though and I'm told it does no harm to the engine, just sounds bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncS3 Posted January 25, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2003 mrramage - I had someone hear it on my car yesterday and straight away they said your timing tensioner chain (I think it was that) needs tightening. Only happens on cold start, and so I took it to an Audi dealer, and it refused to make the noise. The person in the know said that a dealership most likely would be reluctant to do it. The noise is no problem, but alledgedly if the thing gives up you fook your engine... keep me informed of any developments with yours mate Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncS3 Posted April 6, 2003 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 Right...finally got round to booking the car into the main dealer for an overnighter - told them about the tensioner belt diagnosis, and they have concluded.... wait for it.... ...they are going to replace my tappets! not to mention new rear shocks because I reported a clunking noise going over speed bumps They said my cambelt is fine... Dunc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted April 6, 2003 Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 I've got a clattery noise from my 1.8T A4 on startup, but only when the car has been left overnight. Done it from new. I've not worried about it because of all the "they all do that" posts. Only odd thing is that my previous two A3's, both 1.8T, dodn't do it, or at least it wasn't obvious... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wikkus Posted April 6, 2003 Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 It's almost certainly the hydraulic tappets ("lifters" in Yank-speak) and it's something most all such engines do after the oil has bled-down over night, particularly. Also, it'll be worse if the oil itself is old as it loses viscosity and the oil becomes thinner. My old SEAT with the 8V VW 2.0 lump was particulalrly bad for this and sounded very "dieselly" when due for an oil change. The S3 does this too at startup but it goes away quickly as the oil pressure builds up in the "tappets". HTH. Wik. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncS3 Posted April 6, 2003 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2003 I'm not convinved my tappets need replacing, but there you go. The noise my car makes (sometimes) is not normal though Dunc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wikkus Posted April 7, 2003 Report Share Posted April 7, 2003 [ QUOTE ] I'm not convinved my tappets need replacing, but there you go. The noise my car makes (sometimes) is not normal though Dunc [/ QUOTE ] Wasn't suggesting that the tappets need replacing, more likely to be the oil. If you've recorded said noise, any chance of making it avaliable as a .WAV or .MP3 file? Wik. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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