1JZGTE light rattle from cam gear area

[toyotahachiroku]

just today, i noticed that there is sometimes a light rattle from the engine. i narrowed it to the top of the engine, cam gear area forward bit not inside the head. the rattle is not always there. but you can induce it sometimes if you keep blipping the throttle. it sounds like a can of marbles for only a few seconds at a time and the noise doesnt come consistently. its more noticable when the car is cold or on first start. and its not loud. its not audible if the hood is closed. for those familiar with bmw. it sounds like a vanos unit dying but not as pronounced. any usual suspects i should check first?

 

[tlo86]

just today, i noticed that there is sometimes a light rattle from the engine. i narrowed it to the top of the engine, cam gear area forward bit not inside the head. the rattle is not always there. but you can induce it sometimes if you keep blipping the throttle. it sounds like a can of marbles for only a few seconds at a time and the noise doesnt come consistently. its more noticable when the car is cold or on first start. and its not loud. its not audible if the hood is closed. for those familiar with bmw. it sounds like a vanos unit dying but not as pronounced. any usual suspects i should check first?

i say cam gears. when mine were loose on my 7m it sounded like that but it could be a number of things including a loose pulley