i have a 2003 corolla LE with a 116k on it. I've read that the timing chain noise is always a common thing as I've always heard it since I've had the car (bought it with 40k on it) i normally hear the noise when its colder out of if I'm driving it a little harder. i mostly hear it when I'm at a stand still, ex. red light.
well i went to start my car (first time weather was below 30 degrees this year) and was very hesitate to start. when it started it made a really awkward noise. then when i was driving i noticed i heard the timing chain noise when i was on the gas pedal and when i was pushing it the noise got louder until a certain point then it went away. (heard the noise mostly from 5-30mph). it was just awkward that it made a noise when i started it and then it sounded different. it still drives just as find though. so idk if the guides/sprockets and tensioners are wearing out (chain too?)
looking for some info and and guides on what to do. I'm not the best at DIY though and tearing apart my engine would include that. but write-ups/pics would be great. thanks guys!
Sounds like piston slap. Now at 146,000 miles, mine has been doing it too in the same conditions you described, until it's well warmed up but never while idling. How much oil does it consume between 5,000 mile oil changes?
I did adjust my valve clearances at 100,000 miles which got rid of the constant ticking.
i change my oil and oil filter ever 3k with mobil 1 synethic. it doesn't consume much oil at all. b.c i fill the bad oil back into the container. i never got my valves adjusted, though I've heard ppl do, do it at 100k. i did grab a hayes book and it looks pretty extensive. i might have to take it into the shop.
but piston slap? now thats scarring me. since i heard it acting up i haven't started it at all either. but i know its the chain slapping. so idk if its just the chain is stretched, the guides are worn, or the tensioner is bad (or all 3)
You think your timing chain is slapping? How about the VVT camshaft timing gear? Does it sound like a little diesel engine? Can you get a sound clip of it?
does not sound like a little diesel engine. i honestly don't wanna start it til i know its gonna get worked on. so the next time its starting its gonna be at the shop. i feel like its not as severe but i don't want to take any pre-cautions.
i did talk to one mechanic and he said it has to do partly with oil just like invader said previously. i did just to an oil change 2 weeks ago. i switched from 5w-30 to 5w-20 for the winter/cold season. like i said i normally used mobil 1 synethic. but the last 2 times i did an oil change using 5w-30, it wasn't fully synethic b.c they didn't have it in stock. it was high milage advanced synethic.
well it would be a chain tensioner considering its a chain not a belt. the tensioners are common yes in the 9th gen. and i feel like if the tensioner went it would give chain slack therefore slapping the valve cover.
the car has two tensioners - one for the timing chain and one for the serpentine belt.
The timing chain tensioner makes no noise but often leaks oil toward the rear of the engine.
The serpentine belt tensioner when its going bad results in the noise you are hearing at red lights. I can't find a diy with pics but here is a link with some info...
i change my oil and oil filter ever 3k with mobil 1 synethic. it doesn't consume much oil at all. b.c i fill the bad oil back into the container. i never got my valves adjusted, though I've heard ppl do, do it at 100k. i did grab a hayes book and it looks pretty extensive. i might have to take it into the shop.
but piston slap? now thats scarring me. since i heard it acting up i haven't started it at all either. but i know its the chain slapping. so idk if its just the chain is stretched, the guides are worn, or the tensioner is bad (or all 3)
If it isnt piston slap, a belt tensioner or a rod I can guarantee you changing the oil at 3k has something to do with it. Synthetic oil is designed to go much longer than Dino oil and the recommended maintenance is 5k for Dino oil. To change the synthetic Mobil 1 at 3k is not only a waste of money and good oil but you aren't allowing the oil to do its job. That and a cheap oil filter could be your problems. The chain tensioner on a corolla is a ratcheting type tensioner. It would have to break teeth on itself to go bad. And if that happened your chain slap would be heard near the center of the engine and not at the valve cover. If you feel it's the tensioner replace it. But you will probably be mistaken. Run your oil from 6-7k and use a good quality filter (Purolator PureOne, Napa Platinum, or Bosch Premium) to rule that out.
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1982 Corolla SR-5 Hardtop 5 Speed Manual(R154) 1JZGTE
2005 Corolla CE 5 Speed Manual 1ZZFE
2009 Camry LE 5 Speed Auto 2AZFE
If I helped out in anyway please hit the thanks button on my post .
Give it a good listen with your head under the hood. You can use a hose a couple feet long with one end to your ear and the other end touching or pointing at suspected noise sources such as the serpentine belt tensioner, valve cover at timing chain area, etc. You could also remove valve cover to inspect chain and camshaft gears, take valve clearance measuremenmts while you're at it, and even inspect timing gear.
i doubt its the serpentine belt b.c i did check it and its tight and have very minimal cracks on it. the manual and everyone i know always told me to change the oil and 3k. and thats what ive always done. when it gets to about 2,800 miles i can start it to feel sluggish/slow so i know its time soon to change my oil.
the noise is def. coming from that area though. i clicked on that link johnoh sent and it does not sound like that. i am taking it to a shop monday and have them listen to it. i will let them about just to check the serpentine tensioner first though go from there to timing chain etc. but i will keep u guys updated and try to provide a sound clip once i get it started.
i doubt its the serpentine belt b.c i did check it and its tight and have very minimal cracks on it. the manual and everyone i know always told me to change the oil and 3k. and thats what ive always done. when it gets to about 2,800 miles i can start it to feel sluggish/slow so i know its time soon to change my oil.
the noise is def. coming from that area though. i clicked on that link johnoh sent and it does not sound like that. i am taking it to a shop monday and have them listen to it. i will let them about just to check the serpentine tensioner first though go from there to timing chain etc. but i will keep u guys updated and try to provide a sound clip once i get it started.
Google 3000 mile oil change myth. You are wasting money. Also if I remember correct unless you are severe service your oil change interval is actually 7500 miles. Even if that is for dino oil. When using synthetic you can much longer. I go 10k miles on mobil 1. The oil being changed too early doesn't allow it to do its job. It keeps heavy detergents in it. All you have to do is look up black stone labs and send them a UOA (used oil analysis) of your oil and they will tell you how good it is. You can send them new and used samples to compare. I can say with 99% certainty that you aren't feeling any difference and it is just what you are used to doing.
Your problem most likely lies in the belt tensioner (not belt) as these are known to fail or a piston slap issue. You can replace the timing chain tensioner yourself if you think it's that.
Also remember that noise resonates. So a noise coming from somewhere doesn't always originate there. I have seen a cam gear cause noise in a bypass pipe.
Concerning the oil just check out bobistheoilguy.com or google synthetic oil change intervals. You are throwing away money.
__________________
My Toyota list:
1982 Corolla SR-5 Hardtop 5 Speed Manual(R154) 1JZGTE
2005 Corolla CE 5 Speed Manual 1ZZFE
2009 Camry LE 5 Speed Auto 2AZFE
If I helped out in anyway please hit the thanks button on my post .
With the car on and the transmission in drive, and your foot pressed firmly on the brake (like you are at a red light - hopefully at this point the car will be making the noise you referred to) have a friend press on the serpentine belt using the side of a wood dowel or a smooth piece of pipe. This will increase the tension of the belt. If the noise decreases, you have a bad belt tensioner.
Don't listen to hardtopte. First of all changing the oil every 3000 miles is not going to cause any problems. Personally I do agree with him that 3000 is too soon for any oil in a healthy engine BUT doing so won't hurt anything.
Secondly this is a hydraulic serpentine belt tensioner. The Hydaulic part can leak and fail but it's also possible for the bearings in its pulley to go bad and cause noise. For someone to tell you that FOR SURE it's not the belt tensioner (even if the belt is good and tight) is just plain wrong. I've seen many tensioners on many different makes and models produce an engine knocking or chain slapping type of noise when it goes bad.
If you want to be sure remove the serpentine belt and start the engine. Just don't let it run longer than 60-90 seconds or so. If the noise is gone then you have a pulley or a tensioner causing it.
If the noise is still there with the belt removed then it'll need to be torn further apart to figure it out.
Don't listen to hardtopte. First of all changing the oil every 3000 miles is not going to cause any problems. Personally I do agree with him that 3000 is too soon for any oil in a healthy engine BUT doing so won't hurt anything.
Secondly this is a hydraulic serpentine belt tensioner. The Hydaulic part can leak and fail but it's also possible for the bearings in its pulley to go bad and cause noise. For someone to tell you that FOR SURE it's not the belt tensioner (even if the belt is good and tight) is just plain wrong. I've seen many tensioners on many different makes and models produce an engine knocking or chain slapping type of noise when it goes bad.
If you want to be sure remove the serpentine belt and start the engine. Just don't let it run longer than 60-90 seconds or so. If the noise is gone then you have a pulley or a tensioner causing it.
If the noise is still there with the belt removed then it'll need to be torn further apart to figure it out.
Since I can't find the source to cite the info I received I won't say more than changing synthetic at 3K is still a waste of money. The mechanics of it was that new pill has heavy detergents that are designed to remove old oil from the previous oil change. This stuff wears first and leaves the rest of the lubricating oil which wears with time. If you constantly change it too fast you leave the harsh detergents in there.
Everything else seems right. But OP is pretty convinced its not the tensioner.
__________________
My Toyota list:
1982 Corolla SR-5 Hardtop 5 Speed Manual(R154) 1JZGTE
2005 Corolla CE 5 Speed Manual 1ZZFE
2009 Camry LE 5 Speed Auto 2AZFE
If I helped out in anyway please hit the thanks button on my post .
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