Hell there, my boy has a 98 Neon with 99K on it. In the mornings when he starts the car there is a fairly loud clanging noise coming from the left side of the engine when looking at the car from the front. It is even worse sounding in cold weather. It goes away after about 30sec. I suspect some kind of tensioner or loose pulley (?). I plan on getting the timing belt changed soon and perhaps the mechanic can identify the problem if he is good. Any thoughts ? Also, even when warmed up at idle I notice that the engine sounds like it has a loose chain or something. I have noticed this sound on other peoples Neons as well. Runs pretty good other than that.......
Thanks !
Mike[>:]

 

I would think its just valve tap or somethin till the oil gets you to the valves. A ticking noise is normal, all neons do it.

 

Well, I would think the same thing excpet I know what a valve tap sounds like, this is much louder than that. Kinda like something spinning around and hitting the timing or valve cover.....then goes away after a bit. mh

 

I don't know what would make noise and then go away 30 seconds after start-up except something that is not getting lubricated till the oil gets circulated. A belt or something like that would not act like that. I still say the valves.

 

Neon valve noise is abnormally loud in the cold. When I was workin gup in Massachusetts, one of my coworker asked me if I had a diesel in the car...

Switching to a lighter weight oil may help some (5W-30 is what most use). Oddly, switching to a heavier weight has helped for some. The other option is to go with one of those gas-pressurized systems for a hundered bucks or so to get oil up to the top before cranking the engine over. It's nothing to worry about, particularly if it's going away that fast...

best of luck!

 

could be abnormal crank shaft bearing too...but if it is heard through the top its commonly valve tap...