Worrying rattly start up.......

[Anonymous]

Ok, done the usual searches, but nothing has come up with a description "exactly" the same as this, so here goes........

Car was left for about 2-3 days over weekend without moving it as I was away. Got back and moved the car to clean the inside out. Started perfectly first go. As usual.

But, after I cleaned the car, I left it in the same place as I didn't need to go out in it that day. So, its been left there since about 2.00pm yesterday afternoon until this morning........

Turned key and there was this really loud horrible rattling noise. The only noise i can describe it as being similar to was very similar to the noise of my old Mk1 engine just before it dumped all the oil on the motorway!!! Sounded like big ends knocking. I am not saying it is that, but it sounded very much like it. The sound only lasted maybe 4-5 secs (if that) and then dissapeared. I turned off the engine immediately (it was loud enough for the postman to actually look around from a couple of doors away!) and checked the oil (on the infuriatingly unclear dip stick). From what I could see, after leaving the oil to settle for 5 mins, was that it was about half full and very clean. I topped up the oil a little, started her up again and she sounded fine. Drove to work and she sounded lovely.

Any idea what this was folks? It was quite worrying. I hope I don't have some kind of oil pump/drain back valve/oil leak problem that I can't diagnose.......

Oh, and pre-cats went ages ago...........so can't be that! I just hope its nothing terminal.........anyone had anything similar?

Help? Much appreciated...............

[spit]

John, this is a carbon copy of what happened to me (apart from the "cleaned the car" bit   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  ).

I did the same - stopped, checked the oil (which was mid-stick), added a touch more, then checked around for dumped fluids and oddities. Noise gone - as quickly as it came.

Fearing an oil channel blockage & as an additional precaution, I carried out an engine flush & new oil & filter.

This was over 15,000 miles ago, and everything has been sweet since. I never did source the cause, although my local garage suggested that one of the camshaft bearings may have run a little dry  s:?: :?: s:?:  

Like you, I hadn't hammered it before parking up. So, if oil starvation was the cause, and the noise originated from the top end, it could have been due to insufficient feed to the top of the engine at idle. Sounds highly unlikey to me, but I always kill the engine after a very quick throttle blip now.

[Anonymous]

John, this is a carbon copy of what happened to me (apart from the "cleaned the car" bit   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  ).

I did the same - stopped, checked the oil (which was mid-stick), added a touch more, then checked around for dumped fluids and oddities. Noise gone - as quickly as it came.

Fearing an oil channel blockage & as an additional precaution, I carried out an engine flush & new oil & filter.

This was over 15,000 miles ago, and everything has been sweet since. I never did source the cause, although my local garage suggested that one of the camshaft bearings may have run a little dry  s:?: :?: s:?:  

Like you, I hadn't hammered it before parking up. So, if oil starvation was the cause, and the noise originated from the top end, it could have been due to insufficient feed to the top of the engine at idle. Sounds highly unlikey to me, but I always kill the engine after a very quick throttle blip now.

Right oh. I will check on it every couple of days now, just in case and I might, if I get chance, give it an engine flush at some point. Will also take your advice on the small engine blip too. Will keep you posted.

Thanks for that info Spit.....

[Jap GT300]

How many miles has your car done?

It sounds like the starter motor as it happened when you turned the key.

[Anonymous]

How many miles has your car done?

It sounds like the starter motor as it happened when you turned the key.

Car has done about 45K-ish. Starter motor eh? I didn't think of that.......

Any experience of this then Adam?

[spit]

The possibility of a poorly dis-engaged starter crossed my (limited) mind too, but it never recurred after the incident. Car is at 62000 miles now.

[Anonymous]

The possibility of a poorly dis-engaged starter crossed my (limited) mind too, but it never recurred after the incident. Car is at 62000 miles now.

Hmmmm...curiouser and curiouser.........

Ok. Will do like I said and keep an eye on it. Still baffles me why it would do it so suddenly, without warning and so loudly. Strange one.........

Although, I am a litle scared now.......