Raspy engine noise when I down shift or let off gas pedal. 2005 Corolla XRS

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Last couple of days I noticed when I down shift or let off the accelerator and just let the engine ride I get a raspy metal noise. I don't recall noticing it before. To tell you the truth I just used to hear my exhaust and a hum from my engine but now it sounds kind of like a slight metal scraping. I might be paranoid, I am not sure. My 2005 Corolla XRS has about 12K miles and there mostly highway miles. I have mis-shifted like 2 times when I hit about 8k RPM's but thats it. This only started happening recently and nothing acutely traumatic has occurred to cause this. The sound is pretty low and I think I only noticed it being I didn't have my stereo on. I am hoping it is just the engine breaking in and loosening up. The check engine light is not on which is hopeful in thinking I didn't screw up my engine some how. Anyone have any ideas? I am going to take it to the dealer but I know if the computer doesn't show anything and the car drives fine there not going to help me much. The car drives great for the most part and I dont't see any performance degradation. Please tell me I didn't screw up my car.

[PhantomS]

Originally Posted by beholder

Last couple of days I noticed when I down shift or let off the accelerator and just let the engine ride I get a raspy metal noise. I don't recall noticing it before. To tell you the truth I just used to hear my exhaust and a hum from my engine but now it sounds kind of like a slight metal scraping. I might be paranoid, I am not sure. My 2005 Corolla XRS has about 12K miles and there mostly highway miles. I have mis-shifted like 2 times when I hit about 8k RPM's but thats it. This only started happening recently and nothing acutely traumatic has occurred to cause this. The sound is pretty low and I think I only noticed it being I didn't have my stereo on. I am hoping it is just the engine breaking in and loosening up. The check engine light is not on which is hopeful in thinking I didn't screw up my engine some how. Anyone have any ideas? I am going to take it to the dealer but I know if the computer doesn't show anything and the car drives fine there not going to help me much. The car drives great for the most part and I dont't see any performance degradation. Please tell me I didn't screw up my car.

Loose heat shield on the exhaust, perhaps ??? The Tempo my wife owned years back used to do that all the time - damn heatshields never stayed tight.....pos Ford's....

[XRS Terry]

I've noticed the same sound since mine was nearly new. Like yourself i've not seen any physical indication of a problem. I have at least 20K miles since I first noticed it.

I figure it is like another responder suggested, I heat shield or exhaust baffle. Though I've also wondered if it might be coming from the clutch.

Whatever it is, it appears to be related to a particular torque and rpm range. That why i think it's harmonic resinace.

If you find out different, please let me know.

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Well, I took it to Toyota and they changed my transmission. Why I don't know because I Still have the same sound LOL. I think they must be dumb or something. The car drives sweet and I have a brand new tranny but the same sound at that RPM range. Im am starting to think the same thing ( heat shield or some sort of harmonic resinance). The car runs sweet so I don't give a hoot. Myabe one day if I feel brave Ill get in there and see whats going on but it doesn't really bother me unless I go trying to listen for it. If it wasn't for my wife I wouldn't of even noticed but she is hyper sensitive about everything. Let me iknow if your sound got any worse or its the same. Mine is the same.

[jcturbo]

from what i've been noticing on the Matrix/Corolla/Celica Forums this seems to be almost common on the 6 speed trans. everyone complains about but no actual damage seemd to be happening to any parts. I think the Celica guys figured it out though, our clutch plates are not sprung the have rubber insulators, and when people upgrade to the JDM OE Toyota ZZT231 Celica clutch (Sprung) the problem goes away. this is just an observation by the way

[wverdery]

Thanks alot guys... I recently noticed the same on my '05 XRS. I took it to the dealership and they couldn't reproduce the noise. But just like you said it's getting worse and now i can point them in a direction.

-wverdery

Reference to thread: 05 Corolla XRS Front-End Scraping Noise [SOLVED]