My 2009 Kia Sportage made a loud rattling noise when in park or neutral coming from the engine area.. As you shift , drive it goes away, reverse it comes back and finally in drive it goes away. (noise sounds like when you turn the key to start after the engine is already on.) If you shut the car down, upon starting again the problem goes away. Intermittant problem. Finally, it did not start, so we changed the starter and the problem went away for 2 weeks. Now the same thing is happening again.

SOURCE: upon start up, have what sounds like valve train noise

SOUNDS THAT YOUR TAPPETS ARE NOISEY COULDN'T TELL YOU IF ARE ADJUSTABLE OR THEY ARE HYDRAULIC TAPPETS NEED TO REFER TO HYUNDAI.

SOURCE: 1991 Caprice No reverse. Moves in neutral. All forward gears OK.

shift linkage needs adjusting,,could be bent, easy fix, located along firewall to fram beneath the column, ask your son wut he ran over and didnt tell u about... hope i could help...:)

SOURCE: Engine Rattling

Try checking the heat shield on your exhaust system. You should have one over the manifold and one over your cat converter under the car.

SOURCE: Reverse just quit on '95 Pathfinder

If it is an automatic transmission it probably needs transmission fluid. If a standard shift check and adjust shift linkage.

SOURCE: Holden Viva- Automatic transmission troubles.

Hey mate, Had exactly the same problem. Suggest you take the car to your local auto transmission repair centre (not holden) and they can check the electrical diagnostics - if it the Transmission inhibitor Switch (as it was on mine - if so should cost you no more than 1 hour labour and about $75 - $95 for the switch.