Hi Guys, My lovely TE has a problem. In the morning when I start the car, it has a strange rattle. At first I thought it may be the lifters but they've been changed so somehow I doubt it is. I know the manual says its not "unsual" for Magnas to rattle a little when cold but i'm a bit worried about this one. I uploaded a sound clip on you tube...wonder if anyone has had a similar experience. Btw....it doesnt happen every morning, just some days but always when the cars cold. During the day its perfectly fine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIF8K0Il6m8

Thanks Guys

Mine makes a similar noise and not every morning. I've been told the most likely cause is the hydraulic tensioner for the timing belt. As my car is almost at 200K I'm thinking it might be a good idea to have it replaced along with the timing belt.

Mine makes a similar noise and not every morning. I've been told the most likely cause is the hydraulic tensioner for the timing belt. As my car is almost at 200K I'm thinking it might be a good idea to have it replaced along with the timing belt.

darn! I was hoping it wouldnt be that. I got my hydraulic tensioner and timing belt change just over a year ago AND only about 35,000ks ago...how frustrating. Perhaps I can just get the hrdyaulic tensioner checked and changed?

I was given this advice by the local Mitsubishi dealer. I intend to get a second opinion.

Isn't there a check you can do to confirm if it's the tensioner?.... think you remove the CAS and crank for 10 secs then reconnect CAS and start car...if no rattle it is the tensioner. That's from my memory which ain't the best at the best of times. Others will confirm or MadMagna will know.

It is true. It is the hydraulic tensioner. Unfortunately, if the correct torque setting is not used to tighten the tensioner,it still could make the rattle after the timing belt change. It is not uncommon, as my magna started this "rattle" pretty prematurely only at 70000km. But when i got the timing belt done, and its tensioner reset, it is sweet now.

FYI - my rattle started off with the first 2-5 seconds. 20000 kms later, it could be as long as 20 seconds before the sound went away.

Surely setting up the tensioner correctly and tightening that bolt to 45 Nm isn't too hard for any mechanic? lol

It is true. It is the hydraulic tensioner....

FYI - my rattle started off with the first 2-5 seconds. 20000 kms later, it could be as long as 20 seconds before the sound went away.

Oh that's good news lol


Surely setting up the tensioner correctly and tightening that bolt to 45 Nm isn't too hard for any mechanic? lol

Which brings me to my point, If the hydraulic tensioner needs to be changed, do I have to change the timing belt as well? I know they usually recommend changing the tensioner when you change the belt. But is a replacement belt really necessary in this case? given it has only done about a 1/3rd of its recommended life?

The tightening of the tensioner to the correct torque causing this to happen is not correct, the tensioner has no relation to how tight the tensioner pulley is, if too loose it will slip and let go but other than that no relation at all

The trick above is what I ahve told a few people to do, disc CAS and crank, then reconnect and start

The biggest issue here I am finding is people not installing the timing belt correctly, then about 20 or so k later the rattle starts.

I ahve done several in the last few months, one last week the belt was about to fall off lol

Oh that's good news lol



Which brings me to my point, If the hydraulic tensioner needs to be changed, do I have to change the timing belt as well? I know they usually recommend changing the tensioner when you change the belt. But is a replacement belt really necessary in this case? given it has only done about a 1/3rd of its recommended life?

Simple terms, no, dont even have to touch the belt if done properly aside from re tension

Is recommended to change the pulley when doing the belt but not the tensioner

Hey guys, I know this is resurrecting an old thread here but for the purpose of other members who may have been having a similar issue as described here it may be useful.

So the startup noise starting getting much much worse, to the point that it was becoming more frequent when I turned the car on during the day once the engine got cold. I decided it was probably about time to check my oil levels anyway as a last resort before pulling to the mechanics. To my absolute disbelief the dip stick was completely DRY! And I know most of you are going to bag me for this but the car was only service 4000ks ago from memory! (Bear in mind I checked it in the morning in which the oil should have at least, well some, drained down?). Quickly gave the Miss'es a call to get some 5W - 60 Penrite Oil and put it in there and to my amazement the engine didn't make a squeal at ALL when I turned it on!

I left it running for 20 mins to the oil could circulate and I also added some Wynns stop smoke (my theory maybe is the car is burning too much oil and apparently that helps) and yes I know most of you say an absolute NO NO to oil additives, but I'm a bit low on cash atm, so i'll give it a go and see if that stops the excessive oil burning and see how she goes. Left her overnight and there's NOTHING , NO NOISE, no rattle at all this morning! (Excuse my caps i'm rather excited about this) so whether its the 5W-60 oil or just the fact that it was low. For all those wondering, please do check your oil. I hope no severe damage has been done to my beautiful 3rd gen but I'll keep an eye on the oil levels and go from there.