Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting "Card in bike wheel" noise at end of startup.

Lets see if I can describe this. There is a "kid with a playing card in his bike wheel" noise with the inital turn of the key on my inherited '98 Mystique. The engine starts up, and at the end of the ignition sound there is that noise. No hissing or whining, everything sounds just fine even drives fine, only now with this added noise. It's not from a cold start up, car has been used earlier in the day, and the weather is in the 60's. Any idea's would be appriciated, I don't want to go back to the Ford dealership for another problem.

Thanks,
Ink

I don't know if this is what you are hearing, but there is an inherent (normal) mild "rattle" from the starter drive on the V6 engine. The V8 Lincoln Continental also makes the noise.

if it's what i think you mean, it's in the FAQs, it's the timing chain's hydraulic tensioner getting up to pressure.

I guess I should have said that this is a new noise. It's never made this type of noise before. It normaly starts up with out a problem, but now just before the engine roars to life, there is the "playing card in the spoke" noise that I was talking about. I should also give you a few more spec's on the car. It's a '98 Mystique 2.0L DOHC 4 Cyl, GS model. Any other ideas?

I think I know the noise you mean and my car has been making it for years now. I just think it is the way things go with this car.