OK Just got this car. I got it with a blown engine and did a rebuild. It runs perfectly. Power is there and the engine is super quiet on the road. I hear this knocking noise when the car is idling. Knocking or rattling, its hard to tell the difference. No odd smells or anything and like i said its running like it should. Is there something loose or does it sound like there could be something else wrong, maybe exhaust related? Or maybe a loose heat shield?

 

how loud is it? every 1.8t engine has a small knocking sound. search on youtube, you should be able to hear it and compare to yours.

 

Its probably got a bad cam tensioner if the engine was toast. Kinda sounds like a diesel engine with the hood open right?

 

YESS!! Kinda sounds like a diesel engine. but only at idle.

 

how serious is this if it is the cam tensioner? can it be driven?

 

Thats a tensioner. If you hear it more towards the back of the motor than thats what it is. Its located at the back of the head, under the valve cover. Follow this DIY that i wrote up to change it out. http://www.audifreaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8
The worst that would happen if you didn't change it, is misfires would develop in the engine.

 

I can do this myself. just gotta buy the part. thanks for your help and your diy is awesome. love this car. not cheap to fix but its sexy.

 

Ok cool update on the tensioner situation. I took it back to the mechanic who did the head job. knowing what the problem was, thanks to you auditech, I kept my mouth shut and he was really upset when he heard the noise. He knew right then that he had to order part and make good on the head job. So getting that done at no charge. Shame cuz the car was running perfectly, just sounded like an old diesel when i came to a stop. Thanks again guys for your responses. Can't wait to get it back after this and take it out and have some fun.

 

after checking the tensioner, he claims its caused by low oil pressure. says the tensioner is fine. not sure what to make of this. could that cause the same noise to occur?

 

Yes it can, replace the oil pick up tube and the oil and filter.