Problem with noise at 2100 rpm

[Cyberdave]

Hi. I did a search to see if anyone had posted about this but it's hard to search on something for which I find it hard to describe anyway.

I have a 93 Camry V6 LE at 105k miles, automatic transmission. I got it at 75,000 miles and had the
timing belt changed then since the prior owner hadn't done it yet.
I've had it tuned up and routine maintenance etc. I take care of my cars and aside from routine maintenance, anytime
it seems like there might be a problem I have it looked at.

The problem started happening about 6 months ago and the noise seems to be getting worse a little at a time.
When I press the gas and the rpms reach 2100, in the engine area somewhere there is a
noise of some kind. Once the rpms go beyond 2100 it goes away.
I have to modulate the pressure on the gas when driving to make sure it stays out of that
rpm range when the noise starts as I dont want to make the noise and make the problem
worse or something. When cruising on the highway 65mph is when it hits 2100 rpms (ECT is
on and O/O is on/button pressed down). The noise happens regardless of which button is pressed or not or which octane gas I use.

What does the noise sound like? It could be described as a buzzing. Kind of like a strained
mechanical buzzing/whirring. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem.
I took the car in two weeks ago to have the brakes checked and assuming they (my mechanics shop where they do good work) test
drove it they didn't mention it and I at the time didn't want them to spend the time on
it yet. Maybe they didn't notice it. I'm worried once they look into it we're talking thousands of dollars.

Thanks for any info or help.

David

ps - I used to own a 1990 Celica All-trac turbo and after the clutch was changed
a similer noise but more high pitched and slight would be made at a similer rpm range
but was harder to reproduce and never seemed to cause any problem.

[ShagginWagon]

I just bought a 1992 Camry LE V6 and have a similar problem. WHen you first start moving it doesn't make the noise, right about where you're saying yours is at 2100 is probably about the same spot mine does it. It kinda sounds like a fast tapping/buzzing sound, it's ahrd to describe.
I also took it on the freeway and it doesn't make the sound anymore but the car starts to get really loud like its reving out but its only at about 2-3000. I think it may be the transmission, but I'm not sure. It shifts fine during city driving unless I push down on the gas hard while in drive. It doesn't make the sound in neutral.

[Gepetto]

Well, my dads '96 Honda Accord had a problem like that. At about 1800ish (it moved around) it made a bad grinding sound. Turns out, there was a hole or something of the sort on the heat shield for the catalytic converter