When I first start the engine, it sounds alright.
Then after about 10 - 15 seconds when the idle drops down (as it normally does) I start to hear this metallic noise, sounds like the timing chain but I'm not sure. It lasts for maybe 5 - 10 minutes, and then as the engine begins to warm up it's gone. The sound increases with the RPMs if I rev the engine.
The temp outside was 40 degrees and I changed the oil only a few months ago (with the proper 0W40 mobile 1 european formula, w fleece filter). I've noticed this sound since I got the car, but now it sounds a bit louder.

Engine only has ~ 25k on it!

I'm not sure if this is the timing chain or just something on the accessory belt...

I'm going to upload a sound clip as soon as I can. Warranty only has a few months left. I have a feeling my very crappy dealer is going to just tell me its normal regardless.

 

is it a ticking noise or more of a grinding noise?

 

More of a grinding noise but I wouldnt use the word grinding. Definitely not a ticking. The best thing I can compare it to, is the sound a chain makes I don't mean a timing chain but an actual chain. I'm starting to think its something on the accessory belt. I know I could easily determine this by taking the belt off and letting it run for a minute or so, but I have a feeling getting the belt back on isn't going to be so easy.

 

its ur belt and tensioners. i had this replaced by the dealer under the warranty. u hear the problem more during start up. i say go to the dealers if u still waranty and just leave over night. so that the next morning they could hear exactly what ur talking about.

 

If it was the timing chain - and it's common on the 4 cyl engines - not 6. The chain would rattle at initial start up even on high idle & become quiet as soon as the oil pressure came up.(hydraulic tensioners) It certainly would not last 5 to 10 minutes unless something was very wrong. Belt tensioner is likely - presume you are not running the aircon for demisting?

 

I tried turning the A/C on and off to see if it made a difference, it does not. I didn't expect it to though since our A/C units do not use any type of clutch.

I also noticed today that when you turn the engine off, the sound continues right up until the belt stops turning (so that's probably around half a second after turning the key off). I'm going to bring it to the dealer before my warranty runs out. I have a feeling they're going to try to brush it off as a normal noise though because it isn't loud, it's about the same volume as the normal engine sound.

 

Yep! our aircons have no clutch but when you load them they can make a noise but this is not so here.

Tensioner pulley! - mine makes a high frequency whine but it's been consistent for 47,000 Kms so I don't care.

 

Check that your rear catalytic convertors aren't rattling, it's a fairly common problem that can come and go depending on temperature. Timing chain problems on your engine are ALMOST non-existant. The belt tensioner can be noisy at idle and low revs but rarely when revving.

 

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