noise at start up?

[CrazyClutchVR6]

I was just trying to get some opinions of what this could be. Sometimes, actaully often, when i start the engine it makes a rattling noise. I had my friend do it and i listened to it one day, it seems to be coming from near the bellhousing. I was told that it could be the timing chain tensioners, and this is a common problem that i shouldnt worry about for now. If so, ill just do that when i need to get a new clutch, which is probably soon, since i know you have to take the tranny out to get to it. Its been doing it for sometime and it doesnt seem to hurt anything because it just goes away after it builds oil pressure. What do you guys think?

[CrazyClutchVR6]

oh yea.

97' GTI VR6

sorry

[JFryauff]

If it is tapping or clicking it could be the hydraulic lifters that aren't fully pressurized yet as the oil is cold and takes a while to lose viscosity, if it is squealing I would guess your serp belt as mentioned above, could also be your tensioner bearing showing very early signs of needing some service...
VR's are noisy engines particularly when starting cold in cold temps...does it go away after warming up?
Or, it could be the timing chain slapping around until the oil pressure comes up and puts hydraulic pressure behind the timing chain tensioner bolt. The noise should come from the drivers side rear of the motor near the firewall. It should disapear as soon as the oil pressure kicks in.

[CrazyClutchVR6]

yea... it def goes away within like 2 seconds... its just like a rattling at the start. It really sounds like its behind the bellhousing and my friend that had a 95 vr said that his didnt twice as bad and never had any problems. i know that its not the lifters, i know what lifters sound like. it sorta sounds like someones throwing rocks around in there lol. Thanks