Rattle on Startup

[runjmc2]

How many miles, 180K miles? Do have have the CEL code, if not a $40 acrton scanner will read them? The CEL engine light may be entirely unrelated. My '97 is loud at startup, and louder the longer it has not been started. Depending on the CEL code and mileage, addressing the start up noice may or may not be cost effective in the long term.

[Gelbster]

Wrencher,
If you decide to investigate the chain tensioners ,this may be useful:
http://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/52043-cam-pre-tensioners-timing.html#post411549
The diagram here may help also:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/16-ENGINE-Camshaft_Swap_and_Chain_Tensioner/Gp1800.pdf
But please promise to let us know what the problem was and what fixed it -otherwise it doesn't help us to help others.