I have a nasty rattle from the top of my engine when I start it from cold. It only lasts a second then disapears. Im sure its the cam chain tensioner but it seems to be getting louder. Is it on its way out?

it sounds like a chain tensioner not getting enough oil pressure.

You better change it soon,it's quite important and not very expensive

it sounds like a chain tensioner not getting enough oil pressure.

You better change it soon,it's quite important and not very expensive

thanks for the reply. will a new solve the problem or is there another reason its not getting enough pressure like the oil pump?

It will sort it no doubt.

You must find a good mechanic to replace that tensioner,is a delicate job....don't let just anyone do this job

Thats great thanks alot. You dont know the part number by any chance? :-)

sorry,I don't have the part number

Ok no worries. I'll do abit of searching. Thanks again.

When was the oil last changed?

When was the oil last changed?

iv recently replaced the pick up pipe and changed the oil with 5-30 mobil 1 esp so about a month ago.

I think mine has seen better days too. When I've not driven the car for a day and it's cold, I get this momentary rattle/chain slap on startup.

(It's not the starter, exhaust or any heatshields).

I also got an error code 2 weeks ago, that never came back. But it got me thinking.

16396 - Intake camshaft advance setpoint not reached (over-retarded)

Apparently there's a filter mesh under the hydraulic chain tensioner that can get blocked, starving the tensioner of oil. Might be worth a look.

Anyone know how much a new hydraulic tensioner is? I'm guessing it's £200+ or something silly.

£125 for a febi one on ebay.

TBH chains will usually make loads of noise before anything bad happens.

thst's expensive....I found Febi and Swag at ~90 pounds each

I didn't check anywhere other than ebay for a rough guide. GSF are £270 for it

Buying it is the easy part anyway, it's not something I'd personally tell a novice to tackle themselves.

Edited 13 February, 201313 yr by Frisco

Its a pita to change and a genuine one is 300+ and you need to change gasket also £25

Job for a mechanic that's done them before !!

I managed to change the gasket by myself without taking the tensioner out ,and without the compression tool,wich is useless imo

Yeah I have done a few like that also ;-)

Anybody kno the part number for this?

i thought they were around £50 from vwspares? and that the slight rattle on startup was a 1.8T characteristic?