Engine Rattle at Idle.

[NoggyDS3]

Noticed recently that my engine is rattling more than it used at idle. It seems to do it after a run when the engine is hot. I can hardly hear it in the car, its when i get outside i can hear it. I'm not confusing it with the normal 'ticking' that it and my last A3 had (charcoal canister i think?). This is different, it almost sounds like a diesel! If i raise the RPM even slightly, it stops!

I had it serviced including an oil change/flush and cambelt/tensioners/water pump replacement about 2 months ago and it was remapped shortly afterwards for info.

Can anyone help me diagnose?

Thanks.

 

[Aky]

How about flywheel? Does it sound like a metal against metal rattle? could do with a little more information. Which part of the engine is it coming from? Good way to check if it is flywheel would be to press the clutch, if it does stop then it would suggest that its clutch related.

 

[themanthatcan]

Sounds like it could be the cam chain tensioner (aka the camshaft adjuster). It's a hydraulic device which is part of the VVT system I believe. My car had the same symptoms when I bought it and I thought it was normal (hadn't driven another 1.8T) until the engine management light came on. Ended up having the tensioner replaced under warranty so didn't cost me a penny but somebody else on here had the same problem recently and it cost them £500 to get it sorted

I'd suggest you get it on Vag-Com asap to see if there are any errors pop up. This was the error I had: http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/16396/P0012/000018 Also don't drive it hard as the timing will be all out of whack.

Hope that you get to the bottom of the problem matey,
Andy

 

[NoggyDS3]

How about flywheel? Does it sound like a metal against metal rattle? could do with a little more information. Which part of the engine is it coming from? Good way to check if it is flywheel would be to press the clutch, if it does stop then it would suggest that its clutch related.

Yea it does sound like metal against metal. Sounds like its coming from the block but dont qoute me on that as it doesn't do it all the time so it's difficult to check where it's coming from. Best way to describe it is like a diesel! Will check if it's flywheel related next time it does it and keep you posted.

Thanks

 

[NoggyDS3]

Sounds like it could be the cam chain tensioner (aka the camshaft adjuster). It's a hydraulic device which is part of the VVT system I believe. My car had the same symptoms when I bought it and I thought it was normal (hadn't driven another 1.8T) until the engine management light came on. Ended up having the tensioner replaced under warranty so didn't cost me a penny but somebody else on here had the same problem recently and it cost them £500 to get it sorted

I'd suggest you get it on Vag-Com asap to see if there are any errors pop up. This was the error I had: http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/16396/P0012/000018 Also don't drive it hard as the timing will be all out of whack.

Hope that you get to the bottom of the problem matey,
Andy

Had it scanned a week or so ago and it never came up with any faults and no engine management light as yet...

Did yours only do it at idle? Like i say, it goes away it the revs are anything other than idle after a run.

Oh dear, sounds like it could be expensive no matter what it its... Ouch


Thanks

 

[themanthatcan]

Mine sounded fine when actually driving, but just like a diesel on tickover. I just assumed the 1.8T was a bit noisy on tickover as I'm sure I'd read it somewhere. I'd also just come from a diesel car so was used to a noisy idle.

It was only after two weeks of owning it that the engine management light came on, I did some research, and found that the diesel-like clattering noise is the tensioner. It's on the right-hand side of the head bolted onto the side. I'd get you a pic but don't have my car at the moment. Might be worth sticking your head down there to see if you can pinpoint the source of the noise.

 

[NoggyDS3]

Thanks - sounds very much like mine... oh oh... Did yours do it all the time? Mine just does it sometimes. [still clinging to some hope that it may be something else...]

Need to nip out anyway today, dont have a choice as the missus has her car. Hopefully it rattles when i stop and i'll check the clutch and try to see exactly where it's coming from.

 

[themanthatcan]

Yeah pretty sure it did it all the time, but to be fair I could barely hear the engine ticking over from inside the cabin which is where I spent most my time when the engine was running

 

[NoggyDS3]

Typical - just had it for a run and it could not have driven better or idled more quietly!! It was just perfect!

Next time i hear it rattle i'll take a video on the phone and post it and try to get a better idea of where it's coming from .

If anyone has any suggestions in the meantime, no matter how random, let me know as it looks like i could be in for a long haul in identifying/fixing it!

 

[rhubarb4]

Typical - just had it for a run and it could not have driven better or idled more quietly!! It was just perfect!

Next time i hear it rattle i'll take a video on the phone and post it and try to get a better idea of where it's coming from .

If anyone has any suggestions in the meantime, no matter how random, let me know as it looks like i could be in for a long haul in identifying/fixing it!

Sure you didnt have the old animal trapped in your engine somewhere lol

 

[NoggyDS3]

Sure you didnt have the old animal trapped in your engine somewhere lol

Good suggestion!! I know i said 'no matter how random' but think i would've noticed that! ha ha!

Not as bad as the pics of that deer in the BMW the other day on here...!!