My guess is this topic has been discussed before, but.... Do you all have a real short rattle/clatter noise right upon starting your engine?? Lasts for a fraction of a second at most. Usually right after starting or within the first second of starting. I believe its the timing chain just prior to oil pressure/tensioner pumping up.. I think I remember my 98 Max doing this once in a while but wanted to verify this was normal on the 04....

Thanks guys

Smitty

 

Interesting that you mention this... Yes, I too have just recently noticed the split second rattle/clatter upon startup! Happens only occasionally, not every startup, and only when starting in the morning after the colder nights. Never noticed when weather was warmer. I too hope its normal!

 

This is one of the problems that prompted me to actually leave the car at the dealer overnight for diagnosis. My experience is that it is not quite so subtle and is accompanied by a vibration in the steering wheel. Out of one month of ownership it has happened maybe 6 times. The dealer,of course, could not replicate the noise. There was a TSB out for VQ35 engines ('01 Max?) that described this very same noise. The fix was to replace either the left or right VTC (valve timing control?). When I showed this TSB to my service mgr he said that the engines were totally different.