My VW Golf TSI GT Sport 170

[Bearski]

Hi, my Golf makes a ticking sound when starting up from cold, it seems fine when it is warm but I’m just a bit worried about it, it’s done just over 80k and had a service about 6 months ago, thanks in advance

[Belle427]

Most cars do that from cold and its perfectly normal if it dissapears after a few seconds.

[va1o]

It can indicate timing chain problems so worth getting it checked out. It's quite well documented online if you do a search as lots of other 1.4 TSI owners have had troubles.

[Dr G]

My wife's needed a chain and associated at ~74k despite reiligious servicing/maintenance (2008 car with 140PS version of same engine). Started as a slight rattle on cold starts after a few dormant days, eventually sounded like shaking a tin bucket full of old spanners.

On those engines sadly it seems to be when, rather than if they need doing.