HELP PLEASE!!! Cold starts causing loud belt knock???

[dougEdoug]

hello,
well i was wondering if you guys could help me figure out what is going on with my car. i have noticed here in the last two days when i start my car in the morning and the evening after work i'm getting a weird knocking noise. i heard it this morning and i opened the hood and tried to listen to it to get a better idea of what the heck was going on. well the noise is coming from the belt side of the motor. it sounds as if the timing belt is rubbing or bumping against the timing belt cover. i'm pretty sure that the balance shaft belt and the timing belt are in good shape cause they're only about 20,000 miles and a year old. when i replaced the belt i also did the smart thing and replace the tensioner and pulleys. the noise sounds horrible but it only last until the cars gets warmed up completely. once i have driven it for a while the noise will just go away. i know the condition of the accessory belts is fairly good cause i checked them last night. do i need to remove some things to get a better idea of what is going on. my only fear is that when i tear some things off the car to look at it the engine will be warm and the knock will be nonexistant. i know this is a weird and somewhat vague description of my issue, but i was wondering if this is something must be taken care of right now before it's to late. also if you have and more questions about what it is i'm hearing please just ask.
thanks & later,
doug e.

 

[CYIMSOFAST]

Im a nonturbo but I was having the same problem, after tightning my belts it dissapeared.Have you tried that?

 

[project_tsi]

Lets try to narrow down the odds here.

Is it more of a knock, or a tick? Is it possible it could be lifter tick? Lifter tick is from the lifters, obviously, but once the car is warmed up, it generally goes away.

Is it not a squeeking sound? Sometimes the acc. belts will squeek upon cold starts due to improper tightening of the belts.

If you are sure they are not these, you can remove the upper timing cover and start the engine. Inspect the t-belt while it is revolving and make sure there is not visible damage. Also if you get time, check for proper belt tension as well.

Just trying to pinpoint the problem here.

 

[oldman]

Check your crank pulley/harmonic banlancer for signs of separation.