Toyota Corolla 2002: Noise when car is started, in drive, and in reverse

I have a 2002 Toyota Corolla LE with about 50 some thousand miles on it. I am
in the military so I travel a lot. I got the car used with 26 thousand miles
on it and it sounded fine then. I do oil changes on it when needed, make sure
my other fluid levels are full, make sure the tires have enough air, and I
have changed the brakes once so far. Just last winter was when the noise in
the car started. It is like a loud grumbling noise when first started, put
into reverse, and put into drive. After the car has warmed up the sound is
quieter but still there, which wasn't like that before. I can't seem to
figure out what would be causing the noise besides maybe the belts or the air
pump. Does anyone have any ideas? I'm at a loss! Thanks for your help!

Jessica wrote:[color=blue]
>I have a 2002 Toyota Corolla LE with about 50 some thousand miles on it. I am
>in the military so I travel a lot. I got the car used with 26 thousand miles
>on it and it sounded fine then. I do oil changes on it when needed, make sure
>my other fluid levels are full, make sure the tires have enough air, and I
>have changed the brakes once so far. Just last winter was when the noise in
>the car started. It is like a loud grumbling noise when first started, put
>into reverse, and put into drive. After the car has warmed up the sound is
>quieter but still there, which wasn't like that before. I can't seem to
>figure out what would be causing the noise besides maybe the belts. Does anyone have any ideas? I'm at a loss! Thanks for your help![/color]

"Jessica" <u16217@uwe> wrote in message news:5818d25e8c3c9@uwe...[color=blue]
>I have a 2002 Toyota Corolla LE with about 50 some thousand miles on it. I
>am
> in the military so I travel a lot. I got the car used with 26 thousand
> miles
> on it and it sounded fine then. I do oil changes on it when needed, make
> sure
> my other fluid levels are full, make sure the tires have enough air, and I
> have changed the brakes once so far. Just last winter was when the noise
> in
> the car started. It is like a loud grumbling noise when first started, put
> into reverse, and put into drive. After the car has warmed up the sound is
> quieter but still there, which wasn't like that before. I can't seem to
> figure out what would be causing the noise besides maybe the belts or the
> air
> pump. Does anyone have any ideas? I'm at a loss! Thanks for your help![/color]

Several things can cause grumbling noises.

Check your coolant level in the radiator and in the overflow reservoir.

Check the fluid level in the power steering reservoir.

Check the oil level and color in your transmission.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

Could you have a hole in the muffler? Is it louder outside the car
than inside?


Jessica wrote:[color=blue]
> I have a 2002 Toyota Corolla LE with about 50 some thousand miles on it. I am
> in the military so I travel a lot. I got the car used with 26 thousand miles
> on it and it sounded fine then. I do oil changes on it when needed, make sure
> my other fluid levels are full, make sure the tires have enough air, and I
> have changed the brakes once so far. Just last winter was when the noise in
> the car started. It is like a loud grumbling noise when first started, put
> into reverse, and put into drive. After the car has warmed up the sound is
> quieter but still there, which wasn't like that before. I can't seem to
> figure out what would be causing the noise besides maybe the belts or the air
> pump. Does anyone have any ideas? I'm at a loss! Thanks for your help![/color]

All of the fluid levels are fine in the car. The noise is coming from the
engine but more so on the passenger side of the car. It doesn't seem to be
anything serious but I would like to fix the problem to have a quiet car
again. Thanks!

"Jessica" <u16217@uwe> wrote in message news:5819b0ddb2010@uwe...[color=blue]
> All of the fluid levels are fine in the car. The noise is coming from the
> engine but more so on the passenger side of the car. It doesn't seem to be
> anything serious but I would like to fix the problem to have a quiet car
> again. Thanks![/color]

How many miles are on the car?
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

Ray O wrote:[color=blue][color=green]
>> All of the fluid levels are fine in the car. The noise is coming from the
>> engine but more so on the passenger side of the car. It doesn't seem to be
>> anything serious but I would like to fix the problem to have a quiet car
>> again. Thanks![/color]
>
>How many miles are on the car?[/color]

50 some thousand, I'd say I'm in the mid-50's.

--
Message posted via [url]http://www.carkb.com[/url]

"Jessica via CarKB.com" <u16217@uwe> wrote in message
news:5821e047bef24@uwe...[color=blue]
> Ray O wrote:[color=green][color=darkred]
>>> All of the fluid levels are fine in the car. The noise is coming from
>>> the
>>> engine but more so on the passenger side of the car. It doesn't seem to
>>> be
>>> anything serious but I would like to fix the problem to have a quiet car
>>> again. Thanks![/color]
>>
>>How many miles are on the car?[/color]
>
> 50 some thousand, I'd say I'm in the mid-50's.
>
> --
> Message posted via [url]http://www.carkb.com[/url][/color]

Have the timing belt checked. It may be getting loose.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

Ray O wrote:[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>>> All of the fluid levels are fine in the car. The noise is coming from
>>>> the[/color][/color]
>[quoted text clipped - 6 lines][color=green]
>>
>> 50 some thousand, I'd say I'm in the mid-50's.[/color]
>
>Have the timing belt checked. It may be getting loose.[/color]
Ok thanks! I'll keep it posted on here!

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
[url]http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/toyota/200511/1[/url]

"Jessica via CarKB.com" <u16217@uwe> wrote in message
news:58246fe7c0240@uwe...[color=blue]
> Ray O wrote:[color=green][color=darkred]
>>>>> All of the fluid levels are fine in the car. The noise is coming from
>>>>> the[/color]
>>[quoted text clipped - 6 lines][color=darkred]
>>>
>>> 50 some thousand, I'd say I'm in the mid-50's.[/color]
>>
>>Have the timing belt checked. It may be getting loose.[/color]
> Ok thanks! I'll keep it posted on here!
>
> --
> Message posted via CarKB.com
> [url]http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/toyota/200511/1[/url][/color]

You're welcome! The timing belt should be changed at 60,000 miles any way.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

Ray O wrote:
[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>>Have the timing belt checked. It may be getting loose.[/color]
>> Ok thanks! I'll keep it posted on here!
>>
>> --
>> Message posted via CarKB.com
>> [url]http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/toyota/200511/1[/url][/color]
>
> You're welcome! The timing belt should be changed at 60,000 miles any way.[/color]

I thought that version of Corolla had a timing chain, not a belt?

"High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:pan.2005.11.30.21.51.01.762171@hightech.misfit...[color=blue]
> Ray O wrote:
>[color=green][color=darkred]
>>>>Have the timing belt checked. It may be getting loose.
>>> Ok thanks! I'll keep it posted on here!
>>>
>>> --
>>> Message posted via CarKB.com
>>> [url]http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/toyota/200511/1[/url][/color]
>>
>> You're welcome! The timing belt should be changed at 60,000 miles any
>> way.[/color]
>
> I thought that version of Corolla had a timing chain, not a belt?[/color]

It sure does! To the original poster, forget the timing belt advice from
me.

Next steps:

Does the car make noise when moving or when sitting still? How about in
drive or reverse and sitting still? Does the noise change with engine speed
or with vehicle speed?

Can you hear the noise with the hood open? If so, from where? Behind the
timing cover?
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

Ray O wrote:[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>>>>Have the timing belt checked. It may be getting loose.
>>>> Ok thanks! I'll keep it posted on here![/color][/color]
>[quoted text clipped - 3 lines][color=green]
>>
>> I thought that version of Corolla had a timing chain, not a belt?[/color]
>
>It sure does! To the original poster, forget the timing belt advice from
>me.
>
>Next steps:
>
>Does the car make noise when moving or when sitting still? How about in
>drive or reverse and sitting still? Does the noise change with engine speed
>or with vehicle speed?
>
>Can you hear the noise with the hood open? If so, from where? Behind the
>timing cover?[/color]
The car makes noise mostly when still...in drive, idle, and reverse the most
but not when in netural. Once I get driving down the road it still makes the
noise for a while and quiets down after the car gets warmer but is still
making the noise. It sounds like a grumbling noise when sitting in the car
but when I have the hood open it sounds like a vibration. When I go faster,
vehicle speed, the noise is hardly there at all. With the engine speed, just
sitting still, the sounds fades away a little bit as well. The noise seems to
be coming from the belt/alternator area but I can't seem to pin point it.

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
[url]http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/toyota/200511/1[/url]

Jessica via CarKB.com wrote:
[color=blue]
> The car makes noise mostly when still...in drive, idle, and reverse the most
> but not when in netural. Once I get driving down the road it still makes the
> noise for a while and quiets down after the car gets warmer but is still
> making the noise. It sounds like a grumbling noise when sitting in the car
> but when I have the hood open it sounds like a vibration. When I go faster,
> vehicle speed, the noise is hardly there at all. With the engine speed, just
> sitting still, the sounds fades away a little bit as well. The noise seems to
> be coming from the belt/alternator area but I can't seem to pin point it.[/color]

I'm not 100% sure, but it's a possibility...

Have someone listen from outside the car especially when you have it in
reverse or when idling. If it sounds like a metallic rattle, the problem
is a loose heat shield. I had similar symptoms with my Honda Accord not
too long ago. The rattle did sound like a grumbling sound from inside.

"Jessica via CarKB.com" <u16217@uwe> wrote in message
news:58281aae760bc@uwe...[color=blue]
> Ray O wrote:[color=green][color=darkred]
>>>>>>Have the timing belt checked. It may be getting loose.
>>>>> Ok thanks! I'll keep it posted on here![/color]
>>[quoted text clipped - 3 lines][color=darkred]
>>>
>>> I thought that version of Corolla had a timing chain, not a belt?[/color]
>>
>>It sure does! To the original poster, forget the timing belt advice from
>>me.
>>
>>Next steps:
>>
>>Does the car make noise when moving or when sitting still? How about in
>>drive or reverse and sitting still? Does the noise change with engine
>>speed
>>or with vehicle speed?
>>
>>Can you hear the noise with the hood open? If so, from where? Behind the
>>timing cover?[/color]
> The car makes noise mostly when still...in drive, idle, and reverse the
> most
> but not when in netural. Once I get driving down the road it still makes
> the
> noise for a while and quiets down after the car gets warmer but is still
> making the noise. It sounds like a grumbling noise when sitting in the car
> but when I have the hood open it sounds like a vibration. When I go
> faster,
> vehicle speed, the noise is hardly there at all. With the engine speed,
> just
> sitting still, the sounds fades away a little bit as well. The noise seems
> to
> be coming from the belt/alternator area but I can't seem to pin point it.
>
> --
> Message posted via CarKB.com
> [url]http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/toyota/200511/1[/url][/color]

Some late model Corollas had drivetrain noises that concerned some people.
The best way to tell if that is the noise is to take it to a dealership and
have someone there listen to it.

If the noise is coming from under the timing cover then a loose timing chain
tensioner is a possibility.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply