Chris Greenfield

I have a 1999 911 Carrera Coupe and at cold start it makes kind of a rattle noise, plus engine ticking for about 10 seconds. My coolant and oil levels are good. The rattle right after ignition start is brand-new and a bit worrisome. Thanks for you help!

c4racer

Usually that is a sign of chain rattle in my experience not necessarily with the M96 specifically however. Often can mean a worn or broken chain guide. On some motors that is not a big deal ad doesn't need to be immediately addressed. Not sure about how the M96 fits in that area however.

Gofishracing

May just take a a short time for hydraulic lifters to fill. GT3 sometimes sounds like end of world for a 5-8 seconds on cold start up.

c4racer

that's the other thing it could be. If it does it less after a fresh oil change, likely lifters. If no change at all could point to chain guides, but still could be lifters too.

Rubik

Well, when was the last time you changed your oil? If it's due or almost due, that may be it. That's for the ticking.

For the rattle, have you checked your exhaust system?

dmw996

Try this... Pull fuse C4 (fuel pump), spin the engine over for 10 seconds or so - you can even watch for the oil pressure gauge to rise, put the fuse back in and see if it cranks quitter.

On mine its the bank 4-6 chain tensioner that hangs upside down and leaks down after a few hours. I bought all three but that one is the hardest one left to replace on my 01 C2.

Gretch

my engine "rattle" rather a raspy sound, at 125k was a water pump.

while in there, did belt, pulleys, rollers, coil packs and plugs (they were due).

Gretch

my engine "rattle" rather a raspy sound, at 125k was a water pump.

while in there, did belt, pulleys, rollers, coil packs and plugs (they were due).

Macster

For this to appear out of the blue suggests to me it needs to be checked out by a qualified tech, someone you trust and rely on for input for the most serious of car related issues. While I don't think it is serious a bit of caution right now can possibly save you a ton of worry and grief and two tons of money.

I mean I could repeat the stuff about the possibility of the oil being overdue to be changed and cover the issues about selecting the wrong oil -- not that you have I'm just saying sometimes owners come here with weird ideas about what oil to run (5w-30 or something like that...) -- and how these engines are just a bit noisy etc., but I think you should have this listened to by a tech.

I'm even going to be a bit more conservative and advise you flat bed the car to a tech for a listen. I know, I know, but I'm just not willing to risk thousands of dollars unnecessarily to save a hundred bucks.

Of course it is up to you. Oh, and whatever you decide at least avoid the temptation to recreate the noise again and again and have every neighbor give a listen, unless your favorite trusted tech is your neighbor.

KNS

Have you experienced this personally? I have an engine tick on my 993. The first oil change I did with the car was with Brad Penn (one of the recommended oils for that car). No change in ticking - I wasn't really expecting any change.

The next oil change I did was with Mobil 1 (a 15W-50 and 20W-50 blend). The ticking was gone for about 1500 miles but then came back. My guess was it must be lifter related and you're the first person I've heard with similar experience.

Mike Murphy

My 1999 996.1 has a rattle, knock, tick during a cold start. 48,000 miles, 0W-40 Mobil 1, 30F outside. Sometimes it sounds like a rod knock, sometimes a chain rattle. Here's a video from yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5IrhKTYEcc

Ahsai

You can pinpoint the noise by jacking up the car and using a mechanic's stethoscope to probe around. At least you should check for a loose spark plug and a rattling cat.

Mike Murphy

I'll do that and also disconnect the belt - as Macster has said in other posts.

It is a little disconcerting that so many of these 911s sound the way they do when cold. A lot of folks say that these noises are "common," but that doesn't mean that common is "normal."

twitchett

Please update if you find the cause. My car makes a very similar noise for 10-30 seconds after startup, but my car is in storage, so I have not had time to diagnose this myself.

Thank you!

rolex11

When you have the belt off, grab the water pump pulley with both hands and really really tug hard. I was using just one hand and didn't feel any play, then used two and there was a slight wiggle.

My car is currently at shop getting new clutch (including flywheel), AOS, redesigned RMS, EPS IMSB solution.

I pick it up tomorrow. I told him to look into this noise at startup for me while he has it. I'll let you know what he finds.

If my shop doesn't figure it out, I'm changing the water pump myself in the next week or so. I'll know then if it was the slight play in my water pump for sure pulley then.