Ok I've done some searching and I can't find anything exactly specific to the problem I'm having. When I start my car up from a cold start, it starts up just fine with no noises or anything. Once I start driving and the car warms up to normal temperature and come to a stop sign or stop light, you can hear a very loud rattling coming from the engine bay. It's hard to explain exactly what it sounds like. It sounds like a rattling heat shield type noise but it's very steady. When I get to my destination, turn the car off, and then start it back up the car rattles with the RPM raise. When the Rpm's drop back down to idle it goes back to it's steady rattling. If I leave the car sitting for a couple of minutes, the rattling eventually stops. Once I start driving around again, it picks back up. I have NO idea what this noise is but it's very loud and aggravating. I'm hoping it's not something serious in the motor. If it was rod knock or something like that, I would think it would be continuous no matter what temperature the car is at. Please help. I'm thinking about just taking it to the dealership today but I really don't want to. I don't know what this could be. I change my oil regularly and I'm not too rough on the car. Any input is appreciated.

BTW my car is a 2003 s2k.

 

Did you check your oil?

 

cat possibly? my megan pipe use to rattle at idle because it was breaking up inside. it was kind of loud and really annoying. get under the car and check it out

 

Sounds like your timing chain tensioner. Mine has the exact same symptoms.

 

[QUOTE=chillout18,Apr 10 2008, 08:29 AM] cat possibly?

 

search for timing chain tensioner and listen to any of the sound clips and determine if that is you cause of noise

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24CiL5_9YvQ

Sure enough this is the EXACT sound my car is making.

 

HTG has them on his site.

Don't wait, replace it.

It's a 30 minute (average) job.

 

Ok will do. Do you think the dealership would charge me a lot to do it? And, can it wait until next week because I'm supposed to drive to New York this weekend. Excuse my S2k ignorance as I'm not as savvy on timing chains.

 

It's not the timing chain, it's the tensioner.

Don't bother with the dealer, it's (I can't recall exactly) 2 or 3 bolts, a little oil mess and a gasket you don't want to lose, make sure all the bits come out of the hole, pull the pin on the new one without launching the spring loaded bits on the end across your garage, driveway, street, etc., slap it in the hole, torque down the bolts and you're done.

Do search for it here as others have suggested, there's a write up somewhere. It's very simple to do at home but the dealer will probably charge you an assload.

I wouldn't drive it to NY like that but that's me. You'll probably be okay but it could be a time bomb.