A plea for help! Over the past year or so, my 1995 960 (142,000 miles) has started making a clattering noise upon startup, accompanied by the oil light staying on briefly. The noise has lasted a second or two until recently, when it goes on longer. Typically, this only occurs in the morning when I start the car for the first time during the day. My independent Volvo mechanics noted a ticking noise they thought was a lifter problem the last time they saw the car, so they called the dealership to ask about ordering lifters. The dealer parts guy said "Before you hunt down a lifter, pull the oil pan off first,'' but would elaborate no further. They did say lifter problems were rare. Now my mechanics think there may be an oil pump pickup problem.

Taking off the oil pan to check for this problem would cost me about $300, including labor and a new seal, so I'd like to know if there is some common problem with these engines that would confirm that we're headed in the right direction. I worry about this noise because I once had a truck engine starved for oil on startup, leading to its ultimate doom, and it turned out that pieces of a gasket were clogging the oil intake.

Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated!

Jim Kneiszel