Random rattling noise under hood of 06 Camry - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

2006cam · 12-05-2011, 11:22 PM

I have a 2006 Camry LE 4 cyl. that developed a light, random (metal sounding) rattling noise under the hood, near engine on passenger side. It's present/noticable at idle and slow speed.
Car runs great otherwise and great gas mileage, pushing around 100k on odometer.
Out of town with car otherwise would have looked at. Could something just be loose? Something in air filter? GF drove it down to FL and was fine before she left. Thanks

fatngs · 12-06-2011, 05:20 AM

could be the water pump..... mine went at 47k and made a metal sounding grinding noise for a few weeks before it took a crap

BlackCamSe · 12-06-2011, 08:22 AM

Ya look around the belt area and see if there's any excessive movement or anything from any of the pulleys

2006cam · 12-06-2011, 08:32 AM

I'll check the belt area this morning since I have light. Don't think it is water pump- not so much a grinding noise

2006cam · 12-06-2011, 02:36 PM

Checked it this morning. Becomes audible after idling down the car. Seems to be just near/behind the alternator if that helps anyone(not belts to the left). I am original owner, with 98k miles, taken care of, driven easy on highway and first brake job at 90k, fronts only. Car drives normal and nothing shakes, just the noise like something is loose. Even gets almost 40/mpg hwy now. Thanks

leakyseals · 12-06-2011, 03:47 PM

I have that too, same area, for many thousands. Think its either the alternator bearings/brushes or the a/c clutch/bearings/compressor behind it. Keep thinking this year something will fail so I can replace it. Never does.

johnfrisco · 12-06-2011, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatngs

could be the water pump..... mine went at 47k and made a metal sounding grinding noise for a few weeks before it took a crap

My water pump on my 2006 Camry is dead too. No grinding noise yet (from the bearings), but it is leaking coolant.

Does your car sound like the video posted on this thread Can anyone help me identify this problem? which contains a youtube video of sound & audio?

johnfrisco · 12-06-2011, 06:26 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYt1Y2qgDl0

leakyseals · 12-06-2011, 06:38 PM

Thats not my noise. that's way worse. Yeah if the water pump is leaking guess its that but I did notice a wobble in your serp belt tensioner. The bearings in those are known to go, they are constantly under pressure. Or is that one that wobbles slightly your ac clutch...hmmm...hard to see

2006cam · 12-08-2011, 07:01 PM

Thanks for the replys. Not making the noise like the youtube video. Noise is not steady, just intermittent. Car runs fine, heat is great, air cond. is great (in Orlando, was warm, now cooler). No leaks of any kind. No symptoms of anything just the noise. Can't even really hear it with window up and have to try with window down. Will have it checked on next oil change when I get back home.

Reminds me of when I had a noise in my rear driver side when I hit bumps. Turned out to be break rust moving about. Sounded worse than it was in that case.

2006cam · 12-30-2011, 04:43 PM

Took car in after vacation and they said water pump so they fixed that and the belt with it.
Noise got a little worse by the time I got home.
Only thing now is the car idles and little rougher than normal and there is still a little noise/chatter coming from belt area- down in there somewhere- hard to tell for sure.
After I brought it back they said can't hear anything, everything else sounds normal.
They mentioned drive belt tensioner was a little loose before they worked on car but said safe to drive car. Another mechanic looked at it after work done and said tensioner is perfectly fine so maybe they were trying to cover themselves before work in case it broke but who knows! Tension seems fine to me- maybe half inch push down movement. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2006cam

I have a 2006 Camry LE 4 cyl. that developed a light, random (metal sounding) rattling noise under the hood, near engine on passenger side. It's present/noticable at idle and slow speed.
Car runs great otherwise and great gas mileage, pushing around 100k on odometer.
Out of town with car otherwise would have looked at. Could something just be loose? Something in air filter? GF drove it down to FL and was fine before she left. Thanks

leakyseals · 12-30-2011, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2006cam

Took car in after vacation and they said water pump so they fixed that and the belt with it.
Noise got a little worse by the time I got home.
Only thing now is the car idles and little rougher than normal and there is still a little noise/chatter coming from belt area- down in there somewhere- hard to tell for sure.
After I brought it back they said can't hear anything, everything else sounds normal.
They mentioned drive belt tensioner was a little loose before they worked on car but said safe to drive car. Another mechanic looked at it after work done and said tensioner is perfectly fine so maybe they were trying to cover themselves before work in case it broke but who knows! Tension seems fine to me- maybe half inch push down movement. Any thoughts? Thanks!

I mentioned something that was wobbling in an earlier post. Are you still seeing that?

HotRod53 · 12-30-2011, 08:00 PM

Johnfrisco, I know that sound, my wife's old Bonneville did that twice ... alternator bearing.

May I suggest an inexpensive automotive stethoscope? It's one of those tools that sits in your drawer except for that one time a year that you need it. You'd be suprised what you can diagnose with that thing.

2006cam · 12-30-2011, 11:53 PM

I did not post the video with the wobble. I did shoot video the other day
but may need a youtube account to post it. I heard about using a stethoscope to listen and see that suggestion again so may do that and report anything. I wonder if the noise and slight rough idle are related. I'm used to the car being quiet before the work was done (except for pump of course) so I am sensitive to anything. Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by leakyseals

I mentioned something that was wobbling in an earlier post. Are you still seeing that?

2006cam · 05-03-2012, 11:40 AM

O.K., just wanted to update the thread regarding the 2006 Camry.
Not sure if a new thread should be in order...

I still get a shakey/vibration at idle (700 RPM). It sometimes is better after driving more than 15-20 minutes- around 75% of the time of the time it still vibrates more than it should.

I changed the thermostat per Auto Zone (probably mistake) because they insisted coolant wasn't get back to engine even though I did not drive for more than 6 minutes before I got there and explained the temp control was fine. The car seemed to not shake for a week after that but reverted back- strange I guess.

I had a throttle body cleaning done per the suggestions on this forum. THAT seemed to have helped the fuel mileage issue I was having after the water pump change. I haven't done a pure Interstate driving test to see what I am getting highway only, but I can say after a month that I am much improved and the needle does not move down like it used to- thank you all! The idle was worse after cleaning at first, but got better for a week again. After that week that I am back to where I was! Once again a little strange. Now I can feel a little vibration also before I come to a complete stop now- starting between 5-10 mph.

So, I though I would take back into Toyota for oil change and see if they will look at it again. The idle vibration is only in drive/reverse but like I said only after the water pump change, along with belt and air filter that was changed.

Any other ideas before I bring it in with that new information? Of course I have one of those dealers that says everything is "normal." Thank you