Hi,
I have a 2001 magna VRX and it rattles at a cold start. It started a couple of years ago but it is getting worse.
it dosent do it all the time and it sounds like its coming from the back of the engine(firewall) around near the head because mechanics have told me so many things it could be, I havent fixed it yet.
from what ive been reading on the form, which is the best news so far, to here that other people have also had this problem.
it sounds to me like it could be the time belt tensioner? I had the time belt replaced at 75000km ive now done
120000km, do you think this could be my problem,or any sugesstions, IVe flushed and changed the oil ever since ive had the problem as that was the first thing they said it could be but nothing changed.
well be great to here from anyone who has experienced this as I would love to fix it before it goes BANG!
cheers kaylene

When the pre-tensioner has gone, it sounbds like a rattley timing chain.
When does it do it? At start up or under slight loading when taking off?
The belt/s (a/c, alt) if loose make a grumble/groan sound round 1200 rpm under light load.

I would have thought the most common cause would be either a loose heat shield or a buzz in the exhaust due to an extra piece of metal left in the pipe during manufacture. In either case, it would not be serious.


Hi,
I have a 2001 magna VRX and it rattles at a cold start. It started a couple of years ago but it is getting worse.
it dosent do it all the time and it sounds like its coming from the back of the engine(firewall) around near the head because mechanics have told me so many things it could be, I havent fixed it yet.
from what ive been reading on the form, which is the best news so far, to here that other people have also had this problem.
it sounds to me like it could be the time belt tensioner? I had the time belt replaced at 75000km ive now done
120000km, do you think this could be my problem,or any sugesstions, IVe flushed and changed the oil ever since ive had the problem as that was the first thing they said it could be but nothing changed.
well be great to here from anyone who has experienced this as I would love to fix it before it goes BANG!
cheers kaylene

my 1996 te does it when the ac is on and the car is in nuetral with the clutch out. but only at 800rpm.

sounds like a turbo diesel rodeo.

Kaylene,
Can you describe the noise just a little bit more? I have a '02 TJ Sports which normally starts fine, its usually my daily driver.
BUT in last few wks I've noticed if this car has been left sitting for a few days, then immediate start-up is VERY rattly, but within a second or so it settles to normal.

I am thinking that one of my hydraulic lifter (also called lash adjusters etc - google or wiki for details) isn't holding oil pressure properly - and if car is left sitting long enuf, oil seeps out and lets a lots of "slop" into that valve/rocker/cam interface. Once car is cranked and starts, oil pressure picks up, the hydraulic lifter gets primed with oil and "looseness" disappears from that part of the valve train.

I'm not expert, but think that the lifters in our motors are a bit of a weak link... lots members get rattles and there are basically only OEM available? (Members, please correct me if I'm wrong here!). Buying new ones from Mitsi Spares is $13- or more each (24 in our motors) and no guarantee they'll last especially well. Labour plus few other parts needed to fix this. Upside is that I'll only need to change the especially noisy one, and check any others to see if others are on the way out.

In my case, this occurs on rare occasions that the Sports isn't used, so possibly won't treat as a priority repair. Valve train isn't overly noisy at other times.

Maybe you have similar issue if noise is very noisy as you start, and resolves almost immediately on start-up. let us know.....

When the pre-tensioner has gone, it sounbds like a rattley timing chain.
When does it do it? At start up or under slight loading when taking off?
The belt/s (a/c, alt) if loose make a grumble/groan sound round 1200 rpm under light load.

it only dose it in the mornings and mainly only during winter months, some mornings it dosent do it at all.
it did it yesterday and i switched it off and restarted it and it was gone..... there is a utube video from a guy with a magna and a rattle and mine sounds excatly the same
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC9jUTCuhMM
he said his was the timing belt, it sounds like a bad diesel.

Kaylene,
Can you describe the noise just a little bit more? I have a '02 TJ Sports which normally starts fine, its usually my daily driver.
BUT in last few wks I've noticed if this car has been left sitting for a few days, then immediate start-up is VERY rattly, but within a second or so it settles to normal.

I am thinking that one of my hydraulic lifter (also called lash adjusters etc - google or wiki for details) isn't holding oil pressure properly - and if car is left sitting long enuf, oil seeps out and lets a lots of "slop" into that valve/rocker/cam interface. Once car is cranked and starts, oil pressure picks up, the hydraulic lifter gets primed with oil and "looseness" disappears from that part of the valve train.

I'm not expert, but think that the lifters in our motors are a bit of a weak link... lots members get rattles and there are basically only OEM available? (Members, please correct me if I'm wrong here!). Buying new ones from Mitsi Spares is $13- or more each (24 in our motors) and no guarantee they'll last especially well. Labour plus few other parts needed to fix this. Upside is that I'll only need to change the especially noisy one, and check any others to see if others are on the way out.

In my case, this occurs on rare occasions that the Sports isn't used, so possibly won't treat as a priority repair. Valve train isn't overly noisy at other times.

Maybe you have similar issue if noise is very noisy as you start, and resolves almost immediately on start-up. let us know.....

well to be honest it sounds like a diesel and yes mine started like that it only last for a couple of seconds, then it
over time it lasting longer, now its not until i put it in reverse dose it go away.yesterday i switched it off and on again and it stopped... I have been told about the lifters as well, so from what i gather its the lifters, belt tensioner ,or even been reading about the exhaust which could either be lose or a piece thats broken off.
hmm its so hard just dont have the money to repair it all.
thanks kaylene

I would have thought the most common cause would be either a loose heat shield or a buzz in the exhaust due to an extra piece of metal left in the pipe during manufacture. In either case, it would not be serious.

hey so should i just check the bolts are tight on the heat shield and if its the pipe piece thats broken how would i know,what gets me is it dosent do it all the time...

It does sound like the lifters. Autobarn sells them aftermarket, the prices escape me at the moment. It's not a big DIY job, but fiddly and you have to be careful not to drop bits into the engine.

If you take a big screwdriver and put one end on the rocker cover and your ear on the other and have a helper start it for you, listen for the rattle. If its loud there, chances are it's the lifters. The screwdiver (or something like it) acts as a stethoscope and helps to pinpoint the sound. I would be careful about sticking it around the pulleys and fan belts though, could get a bit dangerous.

Some of the auto shops sell mechanic's stethoscopes. These would enable you to poke around whilst you are watching what you are doing. Bit safer. At least this will help you find the exact area where the sound is coming from and you can make a more informed decision.

Are you anywhere near Logan City? May be able to help here if you like.

mate that sounds like my car. It started doing it before 60,000 kms. I would restart it as soon as I heard it and the sounds would go away. IT was the hydraulic tensioner, sound went away as soon as it was replaced! I replaced mine at 103,000 kms, take it to Mitsi or your mechanic. When I first had the problem one Mitsi dealer diagnosed it correctly straight away, another Mitsi dealer said that nothing was wrong with it. So I left it for ages. I should have got the first dealer to fix it as I had issues with the guy who ended up replacing the belt and the tensioner and ended up taking it to Mitsi to reset belts etc as the engine sounded like it was going to fly apart!
It cost me $250 for Mitsi to undo everything the original mech did and refit + set tensions, just labour! Next time I will make time and do it myself...

It does sound like the lifters. Autobarn sells them aftermarket, the prices escape me at the moment. It's not a big DIY job, but fiddly and you have to be careful not to drop bits into the engine.

If you take a big screwdriver and put one end on the rocker cover and your ear on the other and have a helper start it for you, listen for the rattle. If its loud there, chances are it's the lifters. The screwdiver (or something like it) acts as a stethoscope and helps to pinpoint the sound. I would be careful about sticking it around the pulleys and fan belts though, could get a bit dangerous.

Some of the auto shops sell mechanic's stethoscopes. These would enable you to poke around whilst you are watching what you are doing. Bit safer. At least this will help you find the exact area where the sound is coming from and you can make a more informed decision.

Are you anywhere near Logan City? May be able to help here if you like.

thanks for the offer but im live at the glass house,ill try the screwdriver test

mate that sounds like my car. It started doing it before 60,000 kms. I would restart it as soon as I heard it and the sounds would go away. IT was the hydraulic tensioner, sound went away as soon as it was replaced! I replaced mine at 103,000 kms, take it to Mitsi or your mechanic. When I first had the problem one Mitsi dealer diagnosed it correctly straight away, another Mitsi dealer said that nothing was wrong with it. So I left it for ages. I should have got the first dealer to fix it as I had issues with the guy who ended up replacing the belt and the tensioner and ended up taking it to Mitsi to reset belts etc as the engine sounded like it was going to fly apart!
It cost me $250 for Mitsi to undo everything the original mech did and refit + set tensions, just labour! Next time I will make time and do it myself...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqzVkdIlVEU
hey thanks for the import can you go to this link and listen to my car and tell me if its the same noise
I video it and put it on utube
cheers kaylene