Noise when transmission shifts to next gear

[exploreco97]

After searching the threads for the past two hours I can't find anything exactly like what I am experiencing.

Thought I would throw this out there and see if anyone can help me direct the dealership to my problem. Taken it in twice and they can't hear what me and my wife are hearing.

Bought a 05 Camry SE 4cyl in May. Did not hear this sound until after we bought it. There is a vibration type noise when the transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd and sometimes for 2nd to 3rd. It happens right at the top of the power curve as it goes into the next gear. Every time, but more noticable when the engine is cold. It isn't a very loud noise (have to have the window down to hear it) and it might be nothing. Not even sure if it is transmission related, but since it makes it when it shifts, I want to get it taken care of before the warranty is out. I will just feel better if something is found. Car has 45,000 miles. I had them check for any TSB’s since the car seems to shift a lot in town, but they said it is ok and not TSB’s. I am just used to the tranny in my 04 Cam.

Thanks for your time in looking and any help is greatly appreciated.

[TRD VVTi]

Welcome to TN.

Thank you for using the search function.

Can you make a vid of the problem? It's hard to understand without being able to experience it in some way.

Please never leave TN. You can spell, form sentences, make paragraphs, use the search function, you're polite, and make sense. You can't be real...

[CharmCityES]

welcome to TN!
you are a super newbie! polite, grammatically correct, and you use the search function! W0W!

anyway, i havent really seen or heard what you seem to be experiencing, but like TRD said if you make a short vid of the issue we might be able to help
did you check the transmission fluid?

[njerald]

Right on!!!!!!!

Does it make the noise with light throttle shifts as well as when you use a heavy foot?

Watch the Tach. At the same RPM, all the time?

[exploreco97]

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

Welcome to TN.

Thank you for using the search function.

Can you make a vid of the problem? It's hard to understand without being able to experience it in some way.

Please never leave TN. You can spell, form sentences, make paragraphs, use the search function, you're polite, and make sense. You can't be real...

Thanks for the kind words!
I don’t have a video camera, but might be able to try and get one. The noise is very faint. One of those things that I know is there but the dealer and others can’t seem to hear . They rode with me and couldn’t hear it, but I heard it each time. It took my wife a while before she finally heard it too (so I know I am not crazy). I am kind of anal with my cars and noises which will lead to another post on my other Camry . So, I know this is a hard post to try and figure out.

Originally Posted by CorCamrySE

welcome to TN!
you are a super newbie! polite, grammatically correct, and you use the search function! W0W!

anyway, i havent really seen or heard what you seem to be experiencing, but like TRD said if you make a short vid of the issue we might be able to help
did you check the transmission fluid?

Had the fluid flushed right after we bought it. About 42k. I pulled the records from the dealer and it looked like the previous owner had it changed around 30k, but I did it again just for peace of mind. Levels are ok though. I will see about getting a vid made.

Originally Posted by njerald

Right on!!!!!!!

Does it make the noise with light throttle shifts as well as when you use a heavy foot?

Watch the Tach. At the same RPM, all the time?

It is consistent with light throttle and hard throttle. It is at the top of the power curve right as it goes into the next gear. Just 1st to 2nd and sometimes 2nd to 3rd. The tach seems to be consistent too. I will keep an eye on it and let everyone know if anything comes of it. My hope was that the dealer could find something, whether it was transmission or something else. Car shifts normal. Has been a little adjustment getting used to the difference between the 4 speed from my 04 to the 5 speed in the 05.

[new echo owner]

It might be heat shields on the exhaust hitting the right frequency of resonance at that particular RPM. Manually shift the car into either first or second, bring it up to the RPM where you hear the noise, and see if the noise goes away or get louder as you increase pass that range.

N.E.O.

[crazy0sage]

This sounds similar to a "rattle" I've got in my 02 V6. With mine I start getting a faint/consistant/quick rattle around 2-2.5k RPM and gets louder the higher the RPMs go. But it doesn't always happen which is the wierd part, and only seems to happen between 3rd and 4th gear, at least thats when I hear it. Also, when i start to hear it it almost seems like the car starts to bog down just a little bit...

There seems to be alot of information on the forums for these types of "rattles" for the I4 but not a much on the 3.0L. It it a possible intake rattle? loose heat shield? PCV valve? I'm lost and I've been working on cars since high school now. Any help out there?

[Robert1820]

Try noting the rpm that the noise is loudest. Then note whether the noise happens at the peak rpm reached at the shift point or just as the rpm first reduces for the shift. Now, see if you can duplicate the noise with the car stopped in neutral or park by revving it through the rpm range noted earlier. Try bringing it to the "noise" rpm and abruptly letting off the gas. Hopefully you were able to recreate the noise. It would then be unlikely the transmission is at fault. With the electronically controlled trans. and throttle on your car, upshifts have a brief power reduction during shifting that is most pronounced for the 1-2 upshift because of the large ratio gap combined with high torque multiplication. There are lots of things that could make some noise as you describe, exhaust parts including heat shields and belt tensioners well up on the list. I might be concerned mainly if the noise gets distinctly louder.

[crazy0sage]

I've noticed this noise since it was given to me 7 months ago. I've tried several things to diagnose it. This weekend I tried putting premium fuel into it to make sure it wasnt a pinging noise or anything related to engine knock. I still need to check the heat shields.

I also hear the noise while cruising in 4th gear on the highway. Sometimes its there and sometimes its not. Start hearing the faint "rattle" around 2600 RPM (60-65mph) and gets louder once you pass 3000 RPM (70-75mph). If I let off the gas the noise doesnt imediately go away, it decreases with the RPMs. The noise hasnt gotten any worse since I've had it so I might just live with it for the time being. If the noise occured all the time I could take it into the dealer but its had to tell when it will do it or not.