Vw loud ticking sound

vw_driver

Hi All,

Over the last few weeks I have noticed a loud ticking sound coming from my car's engine (07 Jetta TDI, approx. 190k kms). I never hear it when the car has just been started, it usually takes 20 minutes of driving in slow traffic or around town before I hear it. It sounds like the engine is ticking louder and definitely not my imagination as goes away when I switch off the engine and restart a few minutes later. I checked and engine oil level is fine. I can hear it when the car is stationary and in neutral. Also the car is harder to start lately not sure if its related but I sometimes have to turn the key and keep it turned before the car starts. Car is fine when I am driving at motorway speeds. Any ideas of possible causes? I'm thinking maybe a timing belt tensioner or alternator issue?

Any thoughts welcome.

savagethegoat

get it on a diagnostic machine

Atlantic Dawn

Is anything extra turned on at the time like the air conitioning?

Toyotafanboi

Do you ever find it hard to select gears? I'd be thinking dual mass flywheel.