In my case, the noise sounds like it's external.

On 21 Nov 2001 at 8:53, Michael A. Radtke wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Is it possible that it's a bearing knock?
>
> When the anti drain back valve fails in the oil filter it is common to get
> a couple of thunks from the engine on start before the oil gets going
> again.  The fix is easy; put in a new oil filter.
>
> Mike -- Phoenix AZ '84
>
> ----------
> From:   Michael Radtke X4897[SMTP:michael.radtke@bull.com]
> Reply To:       michael.radtke@bull.com
> Sent:   Wednesday, November 21, 2001 7:54 AM
> Subject:        [Fwd: Thumping when start van]
>
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Thumping when start van
> Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 05:46:48 -0800
> From: "Greenamyer, William L" <William.Greenamyer@WEST.BOEING.COM>
> Reply-To: "Greenamyer, William L" <William.Greenamyer@WEST.BOEING.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
> Some of you may have experienced this.  The 84GL doesn't do it when I am
> trying to listen for the thump.  When I start it (maybe 40% of the
> time), I
> get a single thump and sometimes two thumps.  Everything starts fine and
> the
> van runs pretty good.  I am trying to attack some problems still
> remaining.
> There doesn't seem to be anything loose but I have been wrong on that
> before
> (and found a bolt or something missing on a bracket).  What it sounds
> like
> is maybe the motor mount is bouncing (for lack of better words to
> describe
> it).  There does not appear to be hard metal contact (like slamming two
> bars
> together) but it is more like two pieces of metal banging together
> through a
> piece of rubber.  Could the starter be causing this problem?
>
> William
>

Shawn Wright
http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright
'85 Jetta TD
'88 Westy 2.1L