2004 Camry Bad Engine Knock

[Black TL]

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum and and writing on behalf of my dad who has a 2004 Camry LE 4 cylinder with 171k miles on it. When he started his engine this morning, he said it was making a loud noise so I checked it out when I got home. I'm pretty savvy with cars and do most of the work on my 1999 Acura TL myself. However, I haven't heard a knock like this before. The engine sounds like a pure diesel engine. I took it for a test drive and it drove perfectly fine with no loss in power (though I drive the car once every few months).

I posted a video on youtube (link below) where you can have a look. It sounds like it's coming from the piston itself since that's where most of the noise is. The belts look and sound fine. Additionally, it's coming from the 1st or 2nd piston on the left when facing the car.

Does anyone know what this could be? If it's something that can be fixed without changing the engine, then we're likely inclined to do so (under 1k maybe). Otherwise, they'll just get a new car.

Thanks in advance for all your feedback.

Cheers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvyObef2id0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvyObef2id0

[BlackG5]

Are you sure it's not a heat shield on the exhaust? Sounds a lot like it..


Sure doesn't sound good, but if it was internal, you'd notice a serious loss in power and probably see a good bit of smoke out the back...

Did you check the oil? Is there any milky stuff on it?(headgasket if that's the case, but unlikely to be making this noise)

[JOET/CAMRY]

I have heard water pumps that are failing sound similar to the sound on the video You posted. If it is possible remove the serpentine belt and then start the car. If the noise stops than it could be a bad water pump.

[JohnGD]

Water pump or timing chain?

Stick a mechanics $3.99 stethoscope in the area and be careful of moving engine parts.

http://www.harborfreight.com/mechani...ope-41966.html

[DOHCammer]

Originally Posted by JOET/CAMRY

I have heard water pumps that are failing sound similar to the sound on the video You posted. If it is possible remove the serpentine belt and then start the car. If the noise stops than it could be a bad water pump.

Exactly what I was going to say. If the noise is still there with the belt off then it's internal. It would help if we could here this noise when you come on and off the throttle. Lower end bearing noise changes pitch and intensity as load is applied.

[Glenn8963]

metal sounds travel all over the place and the exact location can be hard to locate. you would have to remove all the belts, then with the engine OFF hand turn all the pulleys you can, as one of them could have a bad bearing. it could be from the serpentine belt "idler pulley"....those are prone to going bad and no one ever really thinks of that one.

now i have had sounds somewhat like that one you have, and i have found it to be a bad flex plate at the flywheel. sometimes, the flywheel will be cracked as well. if you can get under the car and remove any "inspection cover" at the flywheel area, then do so and again, engine MUST BE OFF, have someone "bump" the starter a little bit at a time, and inspect the flywheel area.

you only gave us "idle speed" so it could also be a bad valve spring. it could be any number of heat shields on the engine, as well.

[Glenn8963]

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