Hi all.

I've been scouring the internet and just can't get the info I'm looking for. I bought the wife a 2011 model A3 1.4 TFSI. It has 97k miles on the clock and runs like a dream. It's got full main dealer service history and is very well looked after.

The last couple of months it's started developing a rattle on cold start. Only for a couple of seconds or so. Sometimes a bit longer, sometimes not at all. Now it definitely sounds like timing chain rattle, so I suspect it's the tensioner. But reading up a bit more it seems the camshaft adjuster or solenoid could also cause this. I don't think the chain is stretched as I get no fault codes on the car and the engine is dead quiet after the initial startup.

Talking to garages, they all say they need the car there overnight to hear the problem which isn't really an option unless they can supply a courtesy car as the wife uses the Audi every day. Also, quotes for replacing the chain and tensioner vary wildly all the way from £749 to £1700!! I don't want to get the chain and tensioner replaced if that isn't the problem.

So, has anyone had this and can shed a bit of light? I've got a sound clip of it with the link below.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...t%20Rattle.wav