Could be the cam chain tensioner... In fact, Im almost positive thats what it is. Get under the hood, rev your engine at the throtle body, listen for that sound and I bet its coming from the the top/back of the valve cover near the firewall. Let us know!

 

great.. this is gonna blow.. it does sound like its coming from the cam chaintensioner. i start a new job tomorrow and will be commuting 2-3 hours everyday. so i have no choice but to drive it, atleast for tomorrow. how much will the dealship raped me for this?

 

Un-fortunately a lot. The tensioner costs over $300 plus its about a 5.5 hour job under the flat rate system. I would say you're looking at a repair over $1,000.
When the tensioner goes bad is sounds exactly like valve tappet ticking, except our engines never have valve tappet noise, Its always the cam chain tensioner. Sorry to hear about that bro, i would try and replace it yourself.

 

threw a cel today.. vag-com'd it when i got home.

1 Fault Found:
16806 - Main Catalyst: Bank 1: Efficiency Below Threshold
P0422 - 35-10 - - - intermitent

after seening that, looks like the cat may actually be theclicking/rattling culprit? i have tomorrow off so i'm gonna do some major investigating. thing is i had the cat looked at and spot welded at the flange a month ago and the guy said it was fine that the cel was the from the o2.(hadthe cel before i bought a vag-com) i bet u anything they didn't even look at the damn cat!! just welded and didn't even test it or even shine a light in it! so what u guys think, clogged cat the culprit?

 

ill go with a blocked cat because the O2 sensor fault is intermittent

 

You should be able to tell if the noise is coming from either the cam chain tensioner or the cat pretty easily. An exhaust leak by the cat will sound like a ticking noise since its so close to the exhaust ports. Check the welds around the flange on the cat where it meets the turbo. They are known to break/crack.

 

I was thinking more the car drove ok till it reaches normal temps then the cat code which would mean it was a time thing and only happened when the cat was hot and the effects were felt, but saying that an emissions test will prove this

 

just talked to someone who had the exact same noise i have. he said it turned out to be a blown wastegate? what do you guys think about that?

 

LOL JEFF

 

I thought you said you pinpointed the noise where the cam chain tensioner is on the back/top of the engine???