Hi everyone,

I've been having the metallic engine rattle on startup every now and then (a bit more often these days with the weather being so cold).

Simptoms:
Engine is stone cold
Only lasts for 20 odd seconds at startup
If I kill the engine as it happens, wait a few moments, then start it again it starts normally.

Here's a couple videos I recorded:

Normal start up (for comparison):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9wRuG9Y104

Rattling start up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlPNAPaIixM


From what I can find from searching around, it sounds like the timing belt tensioner.

BUT BEFORE YOU SHOOT ME DOWN SAYING IT'S BEEN COVERED BEFORE,
the strange thing is, I had my timing belt and tensioner replaced just 20,000kms / 20 months ago.
Could it be that it has gone after such a short time (I could understand 6-7 years, but less than 2?)

Other information about the car if helpful:
2002 TJ VRX Auto/Tippy.
92,XXX Kms on clock


So pretty much, I have three questions,
What is it / what needs to be done? (is it indeed the tensioner? or something else?)
How much would I be up for repairs?
And of what importance is the reapair? - Urgent (ASAP), Important (Next month or two), Not really important (Next 6 months type thing)

Thanks for your time :)

Neighbour's TL makes the exact same noise. Not game to tell him it needs looking at ASAP before something breaks, in case he gets shitty. lol

Definitely the tensioner. Probably not set up correctly, or the tensioner has failed/leaked.
Go back to whoever did the job and let him hear it.

Nothing to do with distance, my TL belt was as quiet as a new one, even after 8 years and 136,000 km on the original. Tensioner setup was still within specifications despite the belt change being overdue. So it will be either failure of the tensioner, or error on the mechanic's part in setting it up originally.

There is a thread on this at least once a month, is the timing belt pre tensioner, this case is no different

Also covered many many times before is the fact that many of the aftermarket tensioners do fail after a very short time, some here swear by RockAuto parts because they save a dollar or two now but do not realise the cost later when it fails. Simple solution is to have it replaced with an OEM unit and have it installed properly. Often after a belt change the old one if reused may play up as many dont lock them off rather they remove it and then use a vice to re compress, we dont do this here but again still if being reused is no guarantee on how long it will last

As for urgency, it is a mechanical issue, I have had cars get towed in here where the swing arm for the tensioner has sheered off an thus damage done ie bent valves

Thanks Max.
It definitely doesn't sound healthy at all when it does that.
The place it was replaced is a good hours drive away. The car dealer I bought it from had it replaced along with the cars service - perhaps explains why the tensioner has worn out so fast.

Thanks Mal for your patience with us all. I realised it had been covered a few times, just thought it it may have been something different seeing as I thought the tensioner was relatively 'new'.
Could you please let me know how much you'd charge for getting it replaced?

Many thanks