300tdi tinny noise...

Yesterday I was out and about in the 90, no problems.

It was quite cold this morning when I went to start the engine and I know my plugs are shot so it took a bit of cranking to get it going - 20secs...

It started up and there was a tinny rattling noise, I pushed the clutch expecting it to go as it came from the flywheel area and there was no change in noise.

From the engine bay it sounded like it was coming from the flywheel area, then it disappeared before coming back again for a short while. Then it went and I drove about no problem.

Then engine has since been restarted (from warm) with no noise - once engine is running it sounds fine.

I was trying to get as much information about the problem as it was happening so I tried all sorts of things to see if anything changed it and I am CERTAIN its not the gearbox.

So ideas please, similar noises ett.

Sure it's not the exhaust?

Have you checked the engine oil recently? Mine definitely 'tells' me when it's getting low or thin, with a much tinnier noise than the normal diesel rattles ...

Me dads might've done this didn't put enough anti freeze in so the coolant froze and knackered the water pump bearings. Anyway sounds like its probably a bearing somewhere.

Morning . . I had the same kinda noise on my 300 over christmas - turned out to be the bearings in alternator!! The noise was almost like a nut or washer banging around inside something . .

Alt - that makes sence - it would have been running at full cap after that long crank to get the battery back up!

I will check it tonight, but I do think the noise was from the back of the engine bay - sound is funny sometimes though!