Weird Knock

[joejv]

Greetings!

I have a 2000 Solara four banger. It developed a really odd knock that's getting louder. I was doing some google searches and came across of a list of engine light codes.

Are the sensors pretty good about picking up most major problems beforehand? I mean, if I've got a rod bangin' around in there--ok maybe a little extreme for an example--or a cam lobe wearing or valve train trouble, would I have a check engine light before something fails catastrophically or even grenades?

I can't quite tell if the knock is low or high--it's roughly to my ear in the pulley/tensioner belt area but it's really uncertain to my ear whether it's in the block/head.

Definitely having it checked in the morning. Can anyone even give me some warm fuzzies and suggest something silly like a sensor causing an issue?

Thanks Much for any feedback!

edited ot add: i did change the oil and switch out the spark plugs this evening and didn't find any metal frags in oil. neither did anything for the knock.

[Qslim]

As sophisticated as modern EFI cars are, the only light you might get from the conditions you mentioned would be the oil pressure lamp; but by then you'd know that something is wrong from the banging under the hood, you know? So to answer your question, diagnosing a mechanical problem like a knock is done just like it was in the old days.

If you didn't see any metal in the oil and the level is correct, you're off to a good start. Does the knocking change as you drive (get louder or quieter when you accelerate or as the engine warms up)?

Another easy step you can take is to remove the drive belts and start the engine to rule out a problem with one of the accessories. I've heard a few bad PS pumps that sounded pretty damn close to an engine knock.

[joejv]

Thanks for the reply Qslim!

It's most pronounced at idle. Revving the engine it's not noticeable but as soon as it revs down the knock is noticable.

I described that really poorly, sorry. PSpump would be a terrific thing, a block or head, not so terrific.

Thanks again--I'll post results here if anyone is interested. I did read this model can have issues with sludge and I was bad and let it go a bit long between oil changes a few times.

Originally Posted by Qslim

As sophisticated as modern EFI cars are, the only light you might get from the conditions you mentioned would be the oil pressure lamp; but by then you'd know that something is wrong from the banging under the hood, you know? So to answer your question, diagnosing a mechanical problem like a knock is done just like it was in the old days.

If you didn't see any metal in the oil and the level is correct, you're off to a good start. Does the knocking change as you drive (get louder or quieter when you accelerate or as the engine warms up)?

Another easy step you can take is to remove the drive belts and start the engine to rule out a problem with one of the accessories. I've heard a few bad PS pumps that sounded pretty damn close to an engine knock.

[joejv]

It's just the freakin' water pump!!! YAY! mech also wants to service front cover gaskets--cam, etc--but that's putting a price on it i just don't know that i have at the moment. i know it's easiest and best to do it now, but a couple of hundred extra bucks makes the difference between rent and the street these days. thinking that since i can PLAN on having that done, i scrape the cash together at a later date.

Thanks Much Toyota Forums!

[glicorish]

Solaras have Knock sensors you may want to check resisitivity of the sensors to see if they are good. Check user manual for location on 4 banger.On V6 they are under the intake manifold. Also check resistivity of EGR valve.