engine ticking sound upon cold start
 

(previously posted to wrong section of board)I have a98 VDP with 132,000 miles. I havea ticking sound from the engine upon a cold start up or when the car has been sitting for a few hours. I took my car into the shop for another issue (mysterious disappearing coolant). The mechanic advised me that the ticking could be a fractured tensioner and showed me an oem first generation with crack. He said that it will cost about $800 for him to take off the valve covers and inspect the tensioner and if the tensioner is bad then it will be about $1,200 to fix.

I purchased the car a few years ago with 110, 000 miles. Got a clean bill of health from the sameshop, but different mechanic. Oddly, when I took it in for inspection prior to purchase I asked about the tensioner. The person then said that with so many miles, the tensioner has probably been already replaced. The first mechanic was correct. I took off the covers this weekend. The tensioners are metal with the plastic glides. I did not see any cracks on the base or wearing of the plastic glides.

If it is not the tensioners, what else should I look for. The car runs great and at this point, I do not what topay $800 dollars for the mechanic to tell me that the tensioners are fine. Can it be the programming on the ECM?

Thanks in advance.

RE: engine ticking sound upon cold start
 

did you take both cam covers off? also primary tensioners..go as well.. is the nosie always there or just couple seconds.. ?if noise all the timeis it a belt noise? put a pic up..

RE: engine ticking sound upon cold start
 

I have the same thing. I also had my tensioners inspected with a good bill of health.

My machanic said it was most likely valve chatter, he said it wasn't urgent. But im not sure.

RE: engine ticking sound upon cold start
 

If the top tensioners are Red in colour(you can see them by removing rocker covers) then i would replace the whole set, they will crack and the guides will fail. change them asap.
I just caught mine in time and saved alot of money, rather than the chain going slack and the timing missing a cog..!
Cheers
Phil

RE: engine ticking sound upon cold start
 

So many things could be the culprit. After that many miles it could be anything in the motor that needs oiling and after a few seconds at starup the part that is ticking gets enough oil pressure and stops.

RE: engine ticking sound upon cold start
 

i would start by doing a complete oil change , you will then know you have the correct grade of oil in the car, which is 5w30 , at least here in the UK for the car,

and it wont do any harm,

old/dirty or too thick an oil may take a little time to get up to the top galleries, and could contribute to top end noise...

you have already seen that the newer metal upper tensioners are installed, so i wouldnt worry too much about that side of things, if you have an engine with the top mounted VVT solenoids ( 4ltr cars only ), these can chatter before getting lubricated

injectors are also known to get noisy as the miles pile on....

just a thought

BB