Rattle at start up
 

New to the board.

I have a 2002.5 Protege and am wondering if any one else has a engine rattle when they start up their cars. It sounds like there is no oil at startup (about 2 seconds). I have about 1,700 miles on mine now and have been back to the dealership about the problem, only to be told that it is normal.

The only other time I have had heard a noise like this at start up was when a oil filter had failed (backflow valve did not work) and I replaced it shortly after hearing it.

Since I haven't had my car long enough to know if it is "normal", I was wondering if anyone has the same problem?

Bob

Not sure if you experiencing what these people are but here is the thread.

http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/sho...threadid=13763

No, this is a startup problem only after car is sitting for a while (over 4 hours). Most noticed after car is sitting over night.

somewhere...
 

there is a letter from Mazda that this is a normal function of the cold engine emmision controls, and that they are aware of the annoyance to customers, so are working on a fix. (yeah, right)

Re: somewhere...
 

Yeah, look a couple posts up. It's in the link ShotCaller posted.

Actually, I managed to find the cause of the startup rattle. If the car is left sitting alone for awhile, all of the oil drains into the bottom of the engine. Upon startup, what you hear are the cams / valves interacting, without a barrier of oil between them. After a few secods (barely 2) the oil pump will have pushed enough oil up into the engine, and the rattle will stop.

It is perfectly normal.

This is actually quite common on a lot of cars. My Escort did the same thing. However, I do not notice it on my Protege. ..and yes, it is perfectly normal.

Thanks everyone
 

I feel better now that some of you have heard the same thing and feel it’s no problem. I don’t trust the dealership (yet, first time with this auto company and this dealers service department) when it come to service issues dealing with engine noise. My experience in the past is; the service writer is there to make sure all claims get put off till the car is out of warranty (most experience with American cars). If I heard this in a V8 Detroit engine I would have the dealer take it back or fix it.