Has anyone ever had this problem?

[Mello]

Hey guys, I have an '04 S4 6 sp that makes a rattling noise for maybe 2 seconds upon startup in the morning. It does not do it all the time, maybe half the time I fire the car up. I originally thought it was the starter solenoid sticking and continuing to turn the flywheel, but I had someone else listen that does not think that is the case. It sounds to them like a heat shield or something may be loose but I could not get the car to make the sound again when I had it on a lift and everything under the car seemed to be okay. The car does not make the noise when it's warm, making the "something loose" sound more reasonable.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[40valve]

Is it more of a hum/grind kind of noise?
It may be the starter. On my GTI I had that issue. There was nothing wrong with it, just need to be taken apart and lubricated. And it was only making the nose when it was cold overnight. It will progressively get worse.

[wat2022]

Same thing with my 04 S4, It doesn't happen everytime just every once in awhile. I took it to the dealer and they could not duplicate it (imagine that)

[S4Fitz]

Mine does that when its cold out. I thought I read somewhere that it was pretty normal and wasnt harmful.. I hope thats the case.

[Mello]

Thanks for your feedback guys. I hope it's not normal.

I think I'm going to replace the starter just to see if that changes anything. Worse case I have a spare starter to chuck in my garage :)

[b spot]

My dealer told me it was just the ABS system checking itself.

[40valve]

I think I'm going to replace the starter just to see if that changes anything. Worse case I have a spare starter to chuck in my garage :)

Just take it apart. It's a really easy job to lubricate it. Beats the hell out of buying a new one and that not being it, you know.

[Lugi20]

Please do yourself a favor and search the forums on AZ and AW a little bit better. After experiencing the same noise from my car, I did the research and IIRC the timing chain, or chain tensioner (its a chain, thats for damn sure) makes that noise until it gets nice and oiled and then the noise goes away. That is why it only occurs on cold starts, because after the car is warm the chain is nice and lubed up and no longer makes the clunking noise.

Whatever you do don't take my word for it, I just wanted to point you in the right direction.

[40valve]

Please do yourself a favor and search the forums on AZ and AW a little bit better. After experiencing the same noise from my car, I did the research and IIRC the timing chain, or chain tensioner (its a chain, thats for damn sure) makes that noise until it gets nice and oiled and then the noise goes away. That is why it only occurs on cold starts, because after the car is warm the chain is nice and lubed up and no longer makes the clunking noise.

Whatever you do don't take my word for it, I just wanted to point you in the right direction.

Maybe you should read his first post a bit better. The noise he gets is only right after startup and it's not continuous. It only happens during cold starts. Are you describing the whistling noise?
Not being a dick just trying to help the guy.

[wwb4]

I too occasionally hear the same thing when first starting my car in the morning. I've always been curious as to what it was myself.

[Mello]

Thanks.

[RAudi Driver]

Please do yourself a favor and search the forums on AZ and AW a little bit better. After experiencing the same noise from my car, I did the research and IIRC the timing chain, or chain tensioner (its a chain, thats for damn sure) makes that noise until it gets nice and oiled and then the noise goes away. That is why it only occurs on cold starts, because after the car is warm the chain is nice and lubed up and no longer makes the clunking noise.

Whatever you do don't take my word for it, I just wanted to point you in the right direction.

Bingo, that's what my car did also and yes it's the tc tensioner.

[SuperAvant]

In the morning after your car has been sitting to rest over night, the chain gets a little slack as I believe the CT is hydraulic (dont quote me there). So it slowly loses some of its tightness on the chain. WHen you start the car up, you hear that extra slack until the CT tightens up the slack.

[Lugi20]

Maybe you should read his first post a bit better. The noise he gets is only right after startup and it's not continuous. It only happens during cold starts. Are you describing the whistling noise?
Not being a dick just trying to help the guy.

I don't want to come off as a dick either, but did you actually read through the original post and my post all the way through? I think I gave pretty sound advice.

[Mello]

I guess it is normal then. Thanks for your help guys. I tried to search for "engine rattle" and came up with nothing. I'll be sure to search extra hard next time so I don't get the repost/search natzi's panties in a bunch.

[brianmfournier]

My 04 does the same, thanks for the info guys

[Mooneywa]

I think I got a little lost here. But is this harmful or a problem in any way? My car does the same thing.

[SuperAvant]

I think I got a little lost here. But is this harmful or a problem in any way? My car does the same thing.

Nope normal chain slack...If it is constant then you need to start diagnosing but just on startup is fine.