Annoying rattle from front of engine when cold

[DarrenM]

Last week or so have noticed an annoying "clack clack clack" from front of engine when cold. It lasts a few minutes,even when im driving off its still there, then dissapears when she's more up to temperature.

I can't pin point exactly where its coming from but def sounds like top half and its right up front.

Any ideas??

[s2_bo]

Is it maybe the tappets? Mine make a bit of a racket when cold too.

[DarrenM]

Nah, its def right up front not the usual 2 second tappett noise from start up,i had that on my old 2.0L 8valve coupe years ago.

[PeteRR]

Sounds suspiciously like the hydraulic pump. But it's worth checking it's not something simple like a noisy or slack drive belt.

[Lloyd]

You might not believe this but it's possibly your aux belts. replace and/or tighten them slightly. Did the trick with my car 100%

[DarrenM]

Yep, thats exactly the area its coming from,just sounds more like metal to metal. I'll try giving them a tweak later tho...cheers

[Fat Audi 80]

Pour water over the belts just after you have started the car. If the noise goes way its one of the belts...

[Rusty]

Spray a little WD40 on the PAS belt... bet it goes away

New belt time if it does. BTDT

[prosty]

could be that your timing belt cover is a little bent and scrapes against the pulley damper.

[sal_s2]

I'm pretty sure it will be the PAS pump bearings, I've come across this a few times

[rs2jay]

New PAS belt sorted the same symptoms on my RS2

[s2driveruk]

check the alternator bolts that mount it to the bracket, mine sounded like the pas pump until i realised the alternator was working itself loose.

[DarrenM]

check the alternator bolts that mount it to the bracket, mine sounded like the pas pump until i realised the alternator was working itself loose.

BINGO!! This seemed to be it, sprayed a bit of WD-40 on belt this morn and the clacking instantly went away. would never have thought it as in my experience belts normally sqeeeeal not clack clack clack

The voltmeter has been showing a flat charge of about 12v as well recently, after the WD it was on 14v charge again...quality! Can't believe it's the simplist of things, that never happens..will sort it properly when it stops raining, thanx for advice all

[Rusty]

Told you

Took me 2 years to find that out!

[simesf]

WD 40 did the trick for me as well - instantly!!! Hard to believe a metallic sounding noise like that could dissapear so quickly. New belt be next job!! Thanks.