I think I just had this problem and I think my timing belt took a crap in a very very very short period. Car starts for a couple of seconds and dies and makes a tapping which sounds also like misfiring. And the noise is also coming from the front of the block which also makes me think timing belt. But before it broke down I noticed when i started it, it had like 2 knocks at the end of the start then ran fine, but if you got above like 2,500 RPM you got a little tapitty sound but if you idle the noise went away. We towed it to a mechanic that all the Central Texas ( Austin Area VX owners ) all suggested that if I needed any work at all done to the vehicle to take it to these guys at Open Road Automotive in Round Rock TX. I really hope this doesn't **** me 9 ways to Sunday.