^ Thanks!

 

Thanks for all of the ideas as to what it might be. As I said it is very intermittent, all is quiet right now (no extra sound). So I will have wait and jump into diagnostic mode when it starts acting up again.

 

Billman, I have not heard what this tensioner sounds like when it starts to go bad. However, I do know what a stuck Bendix sounds like and it is very distinctive. Are you saying these two sounds are similar?

 

Hmmm....you won't hear any high speed whine, like a starter motor overspeeding.

It's a very distinct noise, like a ratcheting

If you've ever put any new automatic Chrysler product in gear, it makes a rapid clicking sound. That's about what it sounds like. I have an audio clip, I will try and post it later.

 

I had this noise for a while, had the timing belt tensioner replaced and it still does it every once in a while. I've noticed that it's more common on cold starts and if the car has been sitting for a while. I don't know what to do about it... but i hate that noise!!

Any suggestions?

 

I'm guessing this is my problem, and I'll look into getting the timing chain tensioner replaced. Thanks.

 

so the s2k's timing chain tensioner gets tension through oil pressure and not from a spring?

 

Both...

 

almost sounds like a locust or chicada that you hear seasonly in the trees...for a few seconds

I haven't heard it in my S - but I did think that sound coming from the wifes Jeep (Chrysler) when put into gear was sort of strange...

 

These are different noises. I replaced a TCT on an earlier model. this noise is more grinning in nature than the TCT sound which like a card in spokes. This grind is a poorly greased bendix which causes no problem. The TCT noise is when the car is warm. The dry bendix noise is when the car is cold. Billman is 99% right, this is the 1%.