Avalon has a rumbling when started

[sdg124]

This is my first time here and I'm hoping I could get some feedback. My 1996 Avalon has 185K miles on it. I recently started the car up, after 4 days of inactivity, and the car was giving me this unsettling rumbling sounds before I even got the car out of park. Any ideas on what may cause this? And if this will be expensive to fix? The sound is similar to if i have a flat tire, but this occurs without even moving the car.

[sloopercat]

How long does it take for the sound to go away? Is it more like a heavy rattling sound?

[sdg124]

it's a heavy rumbling sound, you can feel the rumbling a little as well, when i start, then it gets a little better once I start moving, but is still well heard while driving. I'm too afraid to take it very far.

[sdg124]

one more note... I just checked all fluid levels and they all seem fine. I haven't checked oil yet, but it's been 3 months and about 1500 total miles I have put on since my last oil change, so I'm not certain that it needs to be changed yet.

[sloopercat]

No idea, you need to take it to somebody to look at. Could be a lot of things, even something as simple as a fan belt coming apart or idler pulley or .........

[89molavi]

Well check the oil first and fast. It could be any of the accessories like the alternator/water pump. If you carefully put a long screwdriver on them one by one you might be able to isolate the source. It could also be sticky valves, not really rumbling though but maybe we have different description of what a rumble is!

[toyomoho]

Could be a bad belt, this might explain the thumping noise. You can also use a piece of plastic hose or even a cardboard tube to use as a stethoscope.

[sickwilly]

motor mount?