2nd post and yet another damn problem with my car. Whenever i start my car cold and sometimes semi-warm i get a really loud clattering sound coming from the timing case of the engine, the sound seems to be taking longer and longer to go away in the morning (started as 1 sec now goes on and on for sometimes 8-10), the car has done 77000 kms, would there be any merit in taking it down to Mitsubishi for them to replace the timing belt/pulleys+tensioners, i live in perth and any input as to what it could be, what it will cost to fix and who won't try to f#@K me on the price will most definateley help me out, thanks.

Probably the tappets, seems to be pretty common... search button will give you heaps of replys.

id say its the common problem of the lifters taking time to get oil pressure (they are hydraulic-automatic adjustment) the first fix to try is an oil change. what grade are you using, and how long has it been since your last change? this problem often occurs using a high viscosity oil. i personally use 5-30W castrol edge fully synthetic (this was the factory used grade) and mine is quiet, others use 10-40w etc. alot of users on here seem to have good results with the semisyn 10-40w from penrite. i would suggest an oil change first as its the cheapest fix if it does work. also some have had good results using an oil flush to clean out any sludge but with your low kms and if you look after it, i doubt you have much. If you have owned it since new, then im not sure if you have some sort of warranty cover for mechanical repairs.

Being the fact its coming from the timing cover, Id say its possible the belt slapping on the timing cover.

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63104

And mine still does it to this day and is yet to cause any damage, so dont stress too much about it.

Yeah - agree with most Rob has suggested above. can you isolate the area noise comes from a bit more? Is it the "timing case" (ie: drivers side end of engine) or is it the rocker cover? Is it front or rear rocker cover? One end of motor etc etc?

You can use a large screwdriver or something similar as a simple stethoscope - rest one end one various bits of the engine and place the other near your ear, or on you facial bones. Have a helper start the car while you try to listen for location of the rattle.

Does this do it all the time, or mainly when the car has been sitting idle for a long-ish time? The lifter (aka hydraulic tappets/lash adjusters etc) can be worn or clogged with contaminents so that they don't hold oil pressure very well and thus need to be "pumped-up" at engine start... Wikipedia has good articles about basic engine parts, and can explain more how these things work, or Car Bibles site etc.

What is the condition and level of your engine oil. take off the oil filler cap - look on inside of cap and down into the valve gear through the oil cap hole - do you see sludge? Any lumps of impurities? The valve gear won't be sparkling, but hopefully you'll be able to tell if that looks OK, or looks evil. If oil is at correct level on dipstick, doesn't smell off, isn't jet-black or thick - would be good signs.

Does the car seem to run well while its got the rattling, or a bit rough? I have had a couple of instances only, where my "daily" (over 220K TJ Sports) had been sitting for over a week and was not only rattling, but also runnig like poo as the lifters came up to pressure. I actually bought a bottle of "lifter free" additive - which was so effective I didn't have to put it in the car LOL. Car just seemed to come good again. Mal (Madmagna) has got me onto Penrite oil, and have recently done an oil change onto fresh Penrite - car hasn't given trouble again.

Try a bit more trouble-shooting, and try simpler cheaper options first. eg: if it sounds like rocker covers, try an additive, oil flush (not all members like the idea of oil flush products SEARCH), and an oil change including new filter. If you have mates or family with engine skillz - let them have a look/listen and see what they reckon.

Doing a few more checks and trying to pin-down the source of noise will stand you in good stead if you need to approach a service dude. I used to quite like our local Mitsi dealer - then they got merged-in with Holden, it all gone completely to crap. Have "fluffy" desk staff who never touch the cars, but know all about "suggestive selling", once charged me to simply quote a part price - so I will never go there again (unless I really have to, in which case I'll drive to a different town for key coding etc). I have good luck so far with smaller family-run businesses, esp a transmission place who also do rego checks and exhaust work. I also ask around at work for recommendations, and get very good advice usually - but this is a regional city, so reputations get around more easily than in a bigger centre, I guess.

EDIT: If it is the timing case area - drivers side end of engine close to external drive belts - I'd investigate a bit further....

2nd post and yet another damn problem with my car. Whenever i start my car cold and sometimes semi-warm i get a really loud clattering sound coming from the timing case of the engine, the sound seems to be taking longer and longer to go away in the morning (started as 1 sec now goes on and on for sometimes 8-10), the car has done 77000 kms, would there be any merit in taking it down to Mitsubishi for them to replace the timing belt/pulleys+tensioners, i live in perth and any input as to what it could be, what it will cost to fix and who won't try to f#@K me on the price will most definateley help me out, thanks.

There wont be any merit taking it back to mitsi dealer. They will pretend the sound does not exist and give the car back to you. I am sitting at 79000km with the TW with the tappet sounds at cold start. I sent it for inspection overnight and the results were exactly as what i mentioned above.

There wont be any merit taking it back to mitsi dealer. They will pretend the sound does not exist and give the car back to you. I am sitting at 79000km with the TW with the tappet sounds at cold start. I sent it for inspection overnight and the results were exactly as what i mentioned above.

I'm curious as to what actually causes this issue, seems to be a fair few on here, yet both our magnas, TJ now at 134k and the TL now on 110k are silent as. Is it just poor maintenance from new or wrong oil or something that causes this?

I think it may be the belt tensioner as i tried turning the car off and starting it again as soon as i heard the clatter, second time no clatter whatsoever, strange and annoying. have tried an oil change (changed every 5000 km) since i owned it which was since 59000km so most of the car's life is a mystery but i can deal with the sound.....for now.

could it be the exhaust rattling?

nah it isn't the exhaust, that's another sound i do have but i know the cause and remedy so it doesn't really bother me

i cant find anything in the manual or on my car that points to the cambelt tensioner been affected by oil pressure, they are a hydraulic unit, but standalone. they are not connected to the oil system in the car. they act like a bonnet or boot strut.