I've noticed when I start my car & the engine is cold from sitting overnight, it gives sort of a "rattle" sound when it first starts up. I've even noticed a similar sound when I leave a light and may be lugging it a little, or in second gear just crawling around a corner such as I'd di in a residential neighborhood. The sound is not always there, but it does always seem to be there when the engine is cold.

I seem to recall the dealer salesperson telling me that the "S" model does that when it first starts up.

Any comments from those of you that know a lot more than I do would be appreciated.

 

I wondered the same thing. I almost sounds as if a portion of the exhaust system is loose. It goes away after a few minutes and I've never noticed it outside of first starting it up.

 

My 05 C2S cab did the same at startup. At times I thought it sounded as if it had PSE when first starting. I kind of liked it. My 07 Targa doesn't seem to do it, or at least not as much.

 

Mine does the same - the noise goes away after a few minutes, I just don't worry about it, just part of the car's personality.

 

I believe it is due to an emissions device...perhaps an airpump which could cause the rattling/burbling sound.

 

It's just warning everyone to get out of our way.

 

hahhaaha.

except one person asked me what's wrong with your engine?
lol.

 

Mine sounds like a giant popcorn maker from a cold start.

 

mines too

 

All the 3.8's do it MOST noticably. It's part of emissions; but no worries. She has her own sound.


I love seeing peoples reaction to it when it starts up. Especially the stuffy-up nosed- types. (aka Lexus owners)(snooore!!)

 

Just switched to aftermarket mufflers (Remus) - no more rattle on start up.

 

I took mine to the dealer twice with the same issue. He said it is normal and I forget exactly the reason but it sounded iffy at best. They told me it was just the "throaty sound of the car"
I then read an article in the PCA mag that a guy wrote on all the little issues he had with his 997 S. The rattle on start up was one of them. He too took it to the dealer 3 times and finally he had them listen to the driver side muffler at start up. It goes away after a minute or two. They replaced the muffler and the sound went away. They said some baffles in the muffler were loose.
I wonder if its a flaw in the muffler some how?
I plan to go back with a copy of the article and see if I can get it resolved......but sounds like it will be a lot of effort to get them to deal with it.

 

My Boxster S does the same thing.

 

Same thing with my TT plus an added bonuses of a puff of black smoke from the turbos...hehehe :-)

 

My 3.8 (with PSE) didn't used to do this, but it started a few weeks ago. It definitely sounds like a loose piece in the exhaust. Goes away once the car has warmed up, but it sure sounds cheap and broken until then.