VW Forum banner

Engine Rattle or Knocking

1 reading
27K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  TheeFT  
#1 ·
I have a rattle or knocking sound when I start up my engine. Once I rev-up my engine to about 1800rpms it goes away. I have a 2002 Passat with the 1.8T. Any comments, tips or suggestions? Thanks.
 
#2 ·
I'm sure no expert, but I just took my 01 Passat in for what sounds like a similar problem...VW told me it was an issue with the cam tensioner (non-VW employed mechanic diagnosed cam lifter). Mine makes a small sound on startup, goes away until the engine is warm and then just really goes to town with that noise.

If I HAVE to drive it someplace and I don't want people to look at me like my car is about to blow up, I have to shift into neutral at the stoplight, rev the engine, then slide back into drive. I hate to leave my baby in the driveway, but I can just imagine what else I'd destroy by driving it before it gets fixed. Cost for tensioner replacement at VW service? $1222.

Good luck with yours, I hope it ends up being much more simple and less expensive than mine.
 
#5 ·
I replaced a cam tensioner on 01 jetta 1.8T because on some rattle sound. All is well now sound great a year later. Did myself replacing valve cover gasket, tensioner gasket, chain has 93K miles. I think the chain didn't need replaced it had no visible wear. The tensioner bought through vwdiscountparts.com
Good Luck
 
#6 ·
I can't tell you that the cam tensioner is your issue, I can only say that it is not an uncommon problem with the 1.8 Passat. If your rattle is not coming from the chain tensioner then obviously replacing it will not solve the problem. If however, the noise is coming from the tensioner, then by all means replacing it will solve the problem. These vintage Passats also suffer from an oil sludging issue that can cause other components to suffer oil starvation. I would rather you have the noise diagnosed by a competent technician before you spend several hundred dollars on a replacement part.

Good luck,

- Craig
vwdiscountparts.com