Hi
My 1998 A4 sometimes has a rattle which sounds a bit like something touching a fan blade after I start.
This lasts for only a few seconds, after which the engine runs very quietly.
Have not managed to get out of the car fast enough to listen in the engine bay but suspect the cam chain tensioner.
Car has done 150,000 miles and runs beautifully.
Am pretty competent amateur mechanic and have done cam belt on son's 2.4 v6 and cured oil leak from under his tensioner by lifting exhaust camshaft etc and replacing tensioner gasket.
Can I replace the tensioner on my 5valve 1.8 without removing the camshafts completly if this proves to be the problem and does anybody know if there are a set of instructions on how to do this - there are a great set for changing the tensioner gasket on the V6 2.4 for instance and we did the job in about an hour !!!
Or should I just carry on and hope nothing really nasty happens?

Matty.