Horrid start-up noise

[ubii]

Originally Posted by pothole

Yeah, the sound was recorded in my garage and the reverb / wall reflections make it sound pretty bad. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't sound great out in the open, but it doesn't quite as gruesome. Also, it sounds completely normal after whatever it is that's catches or kicks in. It will need looking at, was just hoping someone may have experience something similar.

Can the hydraulic chain tensioners be changed without pulling the engine?

According to the following Pelican Parts technical article (see link below), you should be able to replace the paddles without removing the engine. Here is a quote from that article:

"All of the tasks illustrated here should be able to be performed on the engine while still installed in the car, although clearance is tight and it's somewhat difficult to work under the car."

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/16-ENGINE-Camshaft_Swap_and_Chain_Tensioner/16-ENGINE-Camshaft_Swap_and_Chain_Tensioner.htm

I think that they decided to remove my engine, because they initially thought that the chain guides (99610517552 and 99610517353) would also need to be replaced. That ended up not being the case, as only the paddles (99610525300) needed replacing.

[pothole]

OK, thanks.

And for easier listening, I uploaded some youtube videos of the noise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTy8jvx0VrY (bad noise)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCEYS_VFoKY (normal start up a few moments later)

[Frodo]

Wow, that first vid sounds like someone firing up the John Deere to start the harvest!

[pothole]

It does . But is it the chain? Could it be something else? It completely disappears after a few seconds...

[coreseller]

Possible shot in the dark......it wouldn't be the bendix / starter solenoid sticking or in any way starter motor related? The abrupt absence of the noise after a few seconds of racket makes me think the starter gear could be retracting......just a thought.

[pothole]

Yeah that has crossed my mind due to the ay the noise abruptly stops. It just sounds very "chainy"...

[jbs986]

Originally Posted by coreseller

Possible shot in the dark......it wouldn't be the bendix / starter solenoid sticking or in any way starter motor related? The abrupt absence of the noise after a few seconds of racket makes me think the starter gear could be retracting......just a thought.

Mine made a shereking sound when I first started it and would stop,noise lasted maybe 2 or 3 seconds. I replaced the starter and now it is fine.

[pothole]

Found a youtube video posted by a forum member here - this is exactly what my car has occasionally sounded like on a cold start. I think the new longer noise is the same noise but running longer and from a warm start rather than a cold start. Anyway, here's the video of the other guy's car:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyYaAmZ9dsY

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by pothole

It does . But is it the chain? Could it be something else? It completely disappears after a few seconds...

Don't know the answer to your question, but I think mine does the same thing very briefly when I start her. It's a little hard to characterize, since it lasts only like a second. I assumed it was no big deal...

[pothole]

Yup, mine has always been a bit noisy on start - but only very briefly, so hard to know if this is a completely new noise or the old noise lasting five seconds rather than a second or so. But I think it's a new noise.