A4 1.8T Quattro clicking..why??
#33
It sounds like between the engine and the firewall in that gap, I might be wrong but it sounds the loudest there. The clicking isn't that loud but if I start the car and go maybe a mile and stop it gets really loud. It's weird
#37
Lets see if we can figure out what's actually wrong.
Is the clicking/tapping worse when the engine is cold, warm, or is it the same?
If it's worse when the engine is cold, I would say it's a sludge/oil starvation problem. The oil is thick and heavy before the engine is warmed up, but once it's up to operating temp the oil thins out and makes its way up to the head, noise gets quieter.
Does the frequency of the noise change when you TAP the throttle?
Don't rev the **** out of it like that anymore. If the frequency/speed of the clicking changes with RPM, its a good bet your cam chain tensioner is on it's way out.
What part of the head is the tapping coming from?
The cam chain tensioner is at the very back of the head. If the noise is loudest in this location, that's another pointer to the CCT. If you can't pinpoint one specific location, that points back to sticky lifters which points back to sludge/oil starvation.
If you have an automotive stethoscope, that's the best way to locate a noise. If you don't, get old school and use a screw driver. Touch the tip of a big flat blade screw driver to whatever you think is making noise, and put your ear up to the end of the handle.