Rattling engine noise on cold start

BHernandez

New Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2022
Messages
77
Reaction score
36
Hello everyone! I'm new to the forum. I have a 98 GT Conv., since new in November of 97. The odometer reads just over 148K. Since new the car has always been a secondary "weekend" cruiser. So, it spends quite a bit of time parked. Lately, on cold starts after sitting a few days or more, it has an abrupt rattling noise for a second or two then goes away. It sounds like a bearing rattle but, as I mentioned, quickly goes away. I've changed the oil and opened up the filter looking for metal pieces, but nothing. The engine is completely stock. Only mods are suspension and sub-frame connectors. The car has been very well maintained. No noticeable performance issues. Anyone else ever have this issue? Any thought or ideas would be helpful.
 
OP
OP
B

BHernandez

New Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2022
Messages
77
Reaction score
36
It'll be a few days. Just drove it this morning. It only happens after sitting for several days. If I start it daily, it doesn't happen.
 

ttocs

Post Whore
Joined
Oct 9, 2009
Messages
32,383
Reaction score
5,557
Location
Evansville Indiana
its just hard to diagnose a rattle, it could be anything. I had a friend of mine that for a couple of weeks when we would be out drinking he would mention that he had a rattle that was driving him nuts at exactly 3200 rpms. "Not 3100, not 3250 but at exactly 3200", he told me 3 weeks in a row but by the time we got around to leaving we forgot about it. One day he stopped by my house and I told him to pop the hood and as I reached for the hood prop I found the problem was that the didn't lock the prop rod down and you could see where it had been rattling against the inner fender.
 
OP
OP
B

BHernandez

New Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2022
Messages
77
Reaction score
36
That's hilarious! I was planning a trip to Orlando this weekend, but I'll use the Accord for that. When I get back, I'm sure I can get a video of the noise.
 

ttocs

Post Whore
Joined
Oct 9, 2009
Messages
32,383
Reaction score
5,557
Location
Evansville Indiana
That's hilarious! I was planning a trip to Orlando this weekend, but I'll use the Accord for that. When I get back, I'm sure I can get a video of the noise.
I know the funniest part was my buddy wanted me to look at it because he is not a car dude and anyone that would have just propped the hood up to take a quick look even if they didn't notice the paint rubbed off, would have fixed the problem.
 

Merlin

New Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2021
Messages
6
Reaction score
1
Hello everyone! I'm new to the forum. I have a 98 GT Conv., since new in November of 97. The odometer reads just over 148K. Since new the car has always been a secondary "weekend" cruiser. So, it spends quite a bit of time parked. Lately, on cold starts after sitting a few days or more, it has an abrupt rattling noise for a second or two then goes away. It sounds like a bearing rattle but, as I mentioned, quickly goes away. I've changed the oil and opened up the filter looking for metal pieces, but nothing. The engine is completely stock. Only mods are suspension and sub-frame connectors. The car has been very well maintained. No noticeable performance issues. Anyone else ever have this issue? Any thought or ideas would be helpful.
I also have a 98, I have not had this with it. I also Have a 2005 with a 4.0. About two years ago I had thwe same thing on it. I ran it down to a sticking cam chain tensioner. I was told this is common with them.
I added a can of Rislone to the oil and drove it for a day, maybe 75-100 miles. No hot rodding, I changed oil and filter and haven't heard it since. I also add 1/2 quart of ATF at each oil change.
I don't know if this helps you but it did mine.
I have experienced a rattle at start up on other engines but you don't want tohear that, it was the main bearings
 

RAU03MACH

Legend
Joined
Apr 23, 2019
Messages
6,716
Reaction score
6,508
Location
NEW MEXICO
Rather have a little rattle here and there
I have an engine knock deep on the ranger
Now I'm in the middle of replacing the engine
 

badass98svt

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
4,114
Reaction score
1,798
Lash adjuster, timing chain, could be a few things. A vid would definitely help. Also is it coming from the top? The front?
 
OP
OP
B

BHernandez

New Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2022
Messages
77
Reaction score
36
Can't tell where it's coming from. I'm usually inside the car when it happens and it's gone so quick, there's no real time to hunt it down. The timing chains, tensioners and guides were replaced at 125K along with the balancer and water pump. They even dropped the pan to make sure they got all of the guide pieces out. I'll let it sit a few more days and try to get it on video.
 

96blak54

Moderator
Staff
Joined
Feb 21, 2011
Messages
9,977
Reaction score
2,806
Location
In the shop
Mine did the same, however it did it at idle all the time. I simply removed the muffler. No more rattling
 

Pallgor

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2022
Messages
125
Reaction score
78
Hello everyone! I'm new to the forum. I have a 98 GT Conv., since new in November of 97. The odometer reads just over 148K. Since new the car has always been a secondary "weekend" cruiser. So, it spends quite a bit of time parked. Lately, on cold starts after sitting a few days or more, it has an abrupt rattling noise for a second or two then goes away. It sounds like a bearing rattle but, as I mentioned, quickly goes away. I've changed the oil and opened up the filter looking for metal pieces, but nothing. The engine is completely stock. Only mods are suspension and sub-frame connectors. The car has been very well maintained. No noticeable performance issues. Anyone else ever have this issue? Any thought or ideas would be helpful.
Maybe a heat shield. They can be ball buster rattles
 
OP
OP
B

BHernandez

New Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2022
Messages
77
Reaction score
36
Can't tell where it's coming from. I'm usually inside the car when it happens and it's gone so quick, there's no real time to hunt it down. The timing chains, tensioners and guides were replaced at 125K along with the balancer and water pump. They even dropped the pan to make sure they got all of the guide pieces out. I'll let it sit a few more days and try to get it on video.
Had to let it sit a few days. Got a short video of cold start after a week of sitting. Very short rattle right at cold start last less than 1 second. The file is 39 seconds and says it's too large to upload here.
 
OP
OP
B

BHernandez

New Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2022
Messages
77
Reaction score
36
Had to let it sit a few days. Got a short video of cold start after a week of sitting. Very short rattle right at cold start last less than 1 second. The file is 39 seconds and says it's too large to upload here.
 
OP
OP
B

BHernandez

New Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2022
Messages
77
Reaction score
36
Had to let it sit a few days. Got a short video of cold start after a week of sitting. Very short rattle right at cold start last less than 1 second. The file is 39 seconds and says it's too large to upload here.
Sounds much more pronounced from inside the car. Makes me think it's coming from the rear of the engine. Maybe torque converter? I don't know.
 

cobrajeff96

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2022
Messages
1,607
Reaction score
1,479
Location
Germany
To me it makes most logical sense that it would be a chain tensioner, as oil pressure takes a bit of time to work it's way up there. Not to say it could easily be something else though.
 

SnakeBit!

Active Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2014
Messages
869
Reaction score
113
Location
Florida
get a mechanic's stethoscope (cheap to buy) or a long screwdriver and listen to see where it is coming from. will help alot.
 

JPuehl

New Member
Joined
May 11, 2022
Messages
69
Reaction score
19
Location
Greater Seattle area
Was this issue ever diagnosed? I have an '01 Cobra with 4v 4.6 and also have a momentary "rattle" at cold start, but it happens during every cold start not just sitting for a few days. My car has ~70k miles and I plan to auto-cross race it more regularly next year and want to make sure I don't need to replace bearings before I start. Right now I daily drive it without any knocking/rattling sounds after cold start.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
77,435
Messages
1,502,106
Members
14,917
Latest member
virocanah

Members online

Top