Corolla rattling noise near drive belt area - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Momaru · 09-17-2005, 01:00 AM

I am new to this forum and I have a problem. Just want to see if anyone has any ideas.

My 2000 Corolla has been making a rattling noise off and on for about 3-4 months. I've pretty much isolated the sound to be coming from around the drive belt and engine area. The strange thing is, the sound seems to go away sometimes for weeks or stay for weeks. Everytime I bring it to the dealership to have it checked, it doesn't make the noise anymore (go figure). I also noticed the sound seems to go away if I turn the steering wheel left or right.

I was speaking to a service person at the Toyota dealership and he said that if the drive belt (timing chain) was stretched and needed replacement, it would probably cause that sort of noise. The thing was though, he said the noise should be constant not off and on.

Today I actually had time to bring it to the dealership, when my car had the noise. The service person took a look and said it seemed like the drive belt tensioner. So we replaced the tensioner, which cost around $400 CAD for the whole work. When I left, there was no sound, and I thought everything is finally fixed. Low and behold, the noise came back and it was the same rattling noise. At this time, the dealship was already closed and I will need to wait until I have time again to bring it in...

So I was wondering if anyone has any ideas what the problem is with that noise? It's irritating and kind of driving me nuts, listening to it, as I drive. Thanks.

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tashirosgt · 09-17-2005, 08:27 AM

Does this noise happen when the car is standing still or only when it is moving? Does it happen in highway driving or do you only hear it at low speeds?

Momaru · 09-17-2005, 11:21 AM

The rattle noise happens on idle or moving, so it really doesn't matter what the condition is. As I said before, the rattle goes off and on.

An update. I took the car to the dealership this morning and the service person said that it might be the tensioner oil/fluid that may be leaking. Since the oil/fluid provides the pressure in the hydraulics for the tensioner, if there isn't enough pressure the timing chain isn't tight enough and causes the noise. I'm not too sure, since I really don't know this stuff. Anyways, they are going to working on it for an hour and it'll be another $100... sucks.

If that doesn't solve the problem, the service person said they will most likely have to replace the timing chain... more money....

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redgtxdi · 09-17-2005, 11:34 AM

Hmm........how many miles on your 2000??

Sounds odd for a timing chain!

Momaru · 09-17-2005, 01:06 PM

150,000km... I drive a lot.

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Flashmn · 09-17-2005, 02:18 PM

timing chains chatter when they stretch...

Momaru · 09-19-2005, 02:02 AM

Well I guess now I will have to try the timing chain..

I got my car back yesterday and it ran perfectly fine with out any noise. Then when I was driving it tonight it started to make that same noise again.

I really can't understand why it's so hard for them to check what the problem is. Not even sure how much I will have to pay for the chain and labor.

To make matters worse, I somehow manage to lose the master key today. I think the plastic top of the key broke and the key must have dropped some place. Now I only have the valet/spare key.

Is it possible for Toyota to replace the main key, or will this mean I only have the valet key left?

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ganda1f · 09-05-2006, 01:45 PM

Had basically the same problem with my '95 Corolla. It turned out to be the belt that drives the generator and the water pump. But it took some sleepless night to actually come with that idea.

Once I replaced the belt the noise disappeared. It seems quite possible that the noise goes away for you every time they take things apart and then put them back together just because the belt is tensioned little differently.

Could it be as simple as just tensioning your drive-belt? When I changed the belt it needed retensioning after a while.

2001CorollaS · 09-07-2006, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Momaru

150,000km... I drive a lot.

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Was the tensioner checked? Not the pulley, but the actual hydrolic part? They are cheap and very easy to replace, and common now that they're all getting the mileage up there. Only takes 5-10 minutes tops. Another rattling noise that drove me insane, the engine cover on top over the plugs can just a tad loose. It rattled enough to sound like it had a serious mechanical problem. Just make sure it isn't a simple repair before going all out on it. And be carefull who to trust, I am having NIGHTMARES just finding somebody competant to work on mine, don't get me started on that one.