Engine made a ticking noise on cold start

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

Started car up today 8V GTI in morning, heard a ticking noise from engine, so I popped up the hood. Don't Know where it was coming from, rev'd it to 2,500 rpm gradually and it got louder, switched it off to check oil, it was full. Started it again and it disappeared, then rev'd it a little again. It came back then disappeared.

Took it up the toad, and it's been fine after that. Waht could it have been?

I think, either oil pump, or air-con, it was coming from thereabouts.

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

Excuse my spelling, crappy Iphone

[sharki786]

I had a simular problem it sounded like the injectors but you cant hear them inside the car. So started it back up and had a listen turned out to be the 1st spark plug worked its way loose
Lucky it didnt shoot out. They all got loose lol
So have a listen to the sparkies.

[itavaltalainen]

has it been standing for a while?

maybe hydraulic valve followers have run dry... should go away after at most a minute (< 30 seconds if you use 5w40 or 0w40 oil) but then not come back
but worth also checking sparks as said....

other than that you take fan belts off (both) and run for a short while and listen if the noise goes.... could be a loose pulley?
if it's still there take the top cam belt cover off (put the other two belts back on) and check if it comes from the tensioner, but tbh they don't normally tick, rather make a grindign noise...

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

Thanks for the replies, I've been driven it and keeping an hear open to hear any funny sounds, but it's been ok, it was only for the first 1 minute or so. Will keep a tab on over the next few days.

[spudboy6]

May have a slight manifold exhaust blow and the hot air valve flap from the airbox to exhaust magnifies the sound and after say 30secs the valve shuts and the nose goes ?

[Gavv8]

Mine does it when its very cold and i do use 5w/40 synthetic, i just put it down to mileage and thin oil.

[Gavv8]

Started car up today 8V GTI in morning, heard a ticking noise from engine, so I popped up the hood. Don't Know where it was coming from, rev'd it to 2,500 rpm gradually and it got louder, switched it off to check oil, it was full. Started it again and it disappeared, then rev'd it a little again. It came back then disappeared.

Took it up the toad, and it's been fine after that. Waht could it have been?

I think, either oil pump, or air-con, it was coming from thereabouts.

Bit strong for a family show.......

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

I use 10W/40 and it's never done this before. It was very suprising tbh. I'm just gonna wait till it does it again. So I can check what is causing this.

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

Started the car today morning, and didn't hear the noise. sounded sweet