This is the first time I really noticed this noise when I started the car to go to work after the weekend. I do not remember hearing this before.

It was loud and as a reaction I quickly turned the engine off. It eventually went away after the engine warmed up but I can still hear it very low if you try to listen near the front wheel. It seems to be coming from below the engine probably from the crank area.
It is a repetitive tapping type sound like tak-tak-tak... I have heard some older cars make it but this was quite loud and heard it loud sitting at the driving seat. If you rev the car the frequency increases so it is tied to the engine and hence crank shaft or chain?
My car is AT and has 50K miles. No engine mods at all and does not loose much oil that I know off as I check it every 2-3 weeks. The most oil it has lost is half dipstick (from full to half) during 3k miles interval.

Any suggestion what could be wrong?
thx

 

There is a sprocket TSB for the older cars. Mostly a noise issue as I recall.

 

I just remember that on the weekend I did not drive the car much and moved the car a few meters.
So basically ran the car for maybe 20secs and then turn it off so the car never warmed up. Can running it for just this short time have any reason for the noise. I remember one other time car starting a little loud then normal (nothing like I noticed a few days ago) when I had started the car for a few seconds the day before.

Update: car started normally this morning as well on my way to home from work. So have not heard the sound again.

Thanks I will check for the TSB on it.

 

Aluminum engines should never be cranked [cold] without running long enough to reach 174F [operating temperature]!
Ignoring is a Good way to wash cylinder rings with gasoline, thin oil and greatly increase wear.....................such practices are why engines don't last 500,000 miles and fail early or at least start smoking oil early.

 

not to revive an old thread, but wait- its not good to not let the engine warm up each time??