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The problem is worn valve timing chain tensioners. (See other comments re: tensioners). The original design had ratchet teeth to hold position on shutdown; apparently they fail due to wear and/or breakage. Result is that if the engine sits for a while and the oil drains from the oil filter (relatively high on the engine) and the tensioners, there is slack in the tensioners allowing the timing chain to slap around (rattle) for several seconds on startup until the oil has a chance to build up pressure, actuating the chain tensioners and stopping the loose chain and its noise. This is an apparent design flaw of the 3.3L engine in all Hyundai and Kia products. There is a service bulletin for replacement of chain tensioners ( http://novaresource.org/Hyundai/06-20-002.pdf ) issued in 2006 for the earlier engines, and one would expect that the "updated" item would be used in the later models (like my 2012). Does not seem to have been totally effective.

I am not confident that just letting it go is appropriate, but the dealer says the rattle is "normal".

2013 Azera with 20800 miles. Sounds like a bag of bolts is thrown into the engine on a cold start and after cars sits an hour or 2 when cold out. It's embarrassing because people look, often say "what's wrong with your car? Listen to this video, listen on good speakers/stereo to hear well.....
Here is what mine sounds like every day, and if cold out....after sitting just an hour or two. This can't be normal.

http://2013 Azera cold start noise: ...VwxOq5n2xw</a>

https://youtu.be/UVwxOq5n2xw

2013 Azera with 20800 miles. Sounds like a bag of bolts is thrown into the engine on a cold start and after cars sits an hour or 2 when cold out. It's embarrassing because people look, often say "what's wrong with your car?"

My 13 has the same problem headed to the dealer next week any fixes yet??

I have a 2013 Azera with 24k miles on it now. I personally have been all over the internet and Azera and Kia Cadenza owners are complaining about this problem. I personally do not believe this is normal, my car started doing this at 20K miles, before that it was always quiet and normal at startup. If you want to have your dealer look into this I have seen where some dealers have replace the CAM Phasers and even the CAM Shafts to correct this issue with success.

Originally Posted by doughh

I"m not sure I would call it knocking but my 2013 Azera is a little noisier for a couple seconds on startup and then quiets.

Most likely normal. Mine does that, and so did my 2011 Sonata. Quiets down after it runs a bit.

I"m not sure I would call it knocking but my 2013 Azera is a little noisier for a couple seconds on startup and then quiets.

Originally Posted by TheK3

I have a 2012 Azera that knocks during both cold and hot start up for about 3 to 5 seconds then goes away. I have tried all types of gas and the problem still remains. Is this normal for this engine?

If I don't drive the car for several days, the engine will sound as you described. I believe it is because the oil has drained back into the oil pan and is probably normal. But if the sound comes each time you start the vehicle regardless of how long between starts, this should be brought to the dealers attention.

Hyundai GDI engines normally make some noise on start-up, so it MAY be normal. Take the car to the dealer, and have them check to be sure. You can listen to others while you are there to compare.

I tried but its to hard to pinpoint. Does anyone else's 2012 or 2013 Azera have the same symptom?