Help! rattle at 2k RPM When cold, driving me nuts!

[blueapple]

This is the car that I'm planning to take to campus for the next 5 years or so... well, excuse my madness and depression....
96 Camry DX 2.2L 4Cy Manual

There's an annoying rattle at exactly 2K when the car is cold. After driving for 5, 10 minutes, it goes away, or at least gets much weaker that I can't really notice.
It's from the front of the engine ( right side ), ( drive belt, timing belt side )

It sounds like, a piece of plastic, hard plastic, rattling, hitting against a vibrating metal, has some metalic tone in it too, it's more.. heard, than felt...

It happened after my attempt to change clutch myself ( I had a 9 hours window to use an engine lift, couldn't get it done... Stupid.. Stupid Stupid... ), although, I can't say for sure, but I don't recall hearing it before that.

My initial guess was: either a loose exhaust bolt, or a underbody protector that I didn't bolt back right, checked all that, noise still there. I don't see ANY loose metal pieces, plus, the noise seems to be from the timing belt cover. or at least that area, behind it? maybe?

I read previous forums, timing belt guide could be a problem, but how? I mean, why it goes away when it's driven for a while? and also, it's quiet below 1500, and quiet right after 2K rpm, worst when it hits 2k. not only accelerating, decelerating produces same noise, maybe slightly better. I never touched the timing belt cover by the way.

during my attempt to change clutch, I might have turned the engine counter clock wise for a little bit, just a little bit, could that cause the timing belt to skip a teeth?

Another possibility is the engine mount, but, why only when cold?

I'm sure there's no loose parts around that area, it's the same noise whether it runs or just sits still and rev ( at least, I can't tell much difference)

If the timing belt tensioner is gone, say, the bearing is gone, is it safe to drive? I need to take this car 500 miles south, and I don't have the money to have the belt done right now. I know 5SFE is non inteference, but would the valve break if the belt breaks on highway? Carbon Deposite?

[ASG14]

Timing belt. How many miles do you have?

Sounds nearly identle to my Dad's '96 LE I4 Wagon. Replaced T-Belt and no more banging/rattling sound. That happened around 65k miles.

If the timing belt breaks while driving, it will not hurt anything. You WILL need to get towed though and have a new one put in. Also change the Water Pump if you do the T-Belt.

[blueapple]

Thanks!
According to the record, the belt was changed 40K ago.

Well, guess I would have to get it done sooner or later. Do you recall whether the timing belt pulley was the problem? or is it just a very worn out belt making the noise?

dealer quote for a timing belt pulley is $102.89.... kinda crazy knowing that my old 5AF engine from japan only cost me 175 dollars....

I used to do everything myself, last big job was an engine swap for an AE92.( along with belts and clutch ) But camry is much more complicated... last attempt to change clutch kinda hurt my self confidence.... not to mention my back.. hands.. legs...

Do you know whether it's a very difficult job? it looked fine on Toyo's BGB, but then again, the clutch job looked fairly simple too...

Thanks again!

[eyeball96]

It's the timing belt tensioner! My gen 3.5 made the same noise...changed the timing belt at the same time!

[ASG14]

Yeah. While it's all open you may as well do it all and not have to worry about it for a while. I've been told to use ONLY Toyota Timing belts too, as they are made the best. Water pump can be any decent brand though, same as tensioner.