OK here's my issue. Over the last few days when I start the car and let it warm up I get the usual lifter knock (which is very quiet). But when the engine is warm at idle it sounds like a damn diesel. The knocking is very loud and it goes away once I get the RPM's above 1100. But once they're back down to idling they come back. There's about 105k on the clock and I changed the timing belt and everything related to it at 75k and change the oil with only synthetic oil every 4k. I'm looking for some help as to wtf is making the knocking sound. It sounds like it's coming from near the timing belt inspection cover, but I have checked and nothing is loose there, but the rattle is most pronounced up that direction. Any help I can get is greatly appreciated.

 

Engine?

 

Have same issue as the OP and got a 2.8 engine. Interested to see what could it be.

 

yea me too, my 1.8t sounds like a frickin merc!

i get made fun of it all the time, haha

 

Power Steering? Try moving your wheel when its sounding off. If the knocking goes away then theres the thing. Mine went off once, for no apparent reason. Luckily I was parked at the mechanic's and we took a look. After giving the wheel a jiggle it went away. It sounded like someone left a tool in my intake or like the fans were hitting something, very loud.

 

you sure it couldnt be coming from the rear of the engine? like the cam chain tensioner? sounds like its getting starved for oil while the engine is at idle and is making a bunch of noise.

 

is it similar to this?
(watch his video)
https://www.audiforums.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=132872


i have it too...and i would hate to think that its normal.

 

it does sound similar only louder at idle, but it goes away once the rpms are over 1k. It's getting annoying though as it never made this noise before and I've put almost 40k on it since last year. I'll find out tomorrow as it's going to the dealer to get checked out.

 

I also had a vibration/rattle from the engine at roughly 1000 - 1400rpm, and then quiet after that. It was worse when holding the car in drive on the brakes (under load). The noise went away when I remove the serpentine belt, so I knew it had to be something on the belt. Found the aircon pump to be the origin. As I planned on removing it, I noticed one of the mounting bolts were out.

So the noise was actually the pump being loose and resonated against the block at a certain RPM. Fitted a new bolt and noise was gone!!

Hope this helps.

 

I'm having this issue it's has to be in the front of the engine, I'm going to check your suggestions above. At first I thought it was a motor mount but it has to be in the serpentine belt area. Letting the car idle in gear with the emergency brake set really makes it louder.