2005 Camry SE 2.4L Rattle Noise - (video/audio)

2005 Camry SE 2.4L auto, roughly 39,000 miles

I have this faint but odd 'rattle' noise when the engine is below 2000 RPMs. It comes and goes, but it seems to be getting worse (more often and louder).

I did a search and most threads that popped up were related to the 2004 throttle body and/or the tensioner pulley,

I don't think either of these is my issue on a 2005.

I hear the noise sitting in the passenger compartment when I slowly rev the engine (or during normal driving, in gear out of gear does not matter) from about 1000 rpms to about 2000 rpms, it seems the loudest at about 1200-1600 rpms. See youtube video, listen carefully when the rpms cross the 1000 mark (you will have to turn the volume up)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds3MHfBeGgU


It also seems louder on colder days, today it was freezing when I cranked it up and I could hear the noise at idle (below 1000 rpms) when normally the rpms have to be a little higher to hear it, once the car warmed up, the noise was not audible at idle anymore, but could still be heard sub 2000 rpms.

The noise can not be heard under the hood. I have popped the hood a dozen times now and had another person slowly rev the engine while I listen up under the hood and I can't hear it. When I sit in the passenger compartment, I hear it.

I never hear it at higher RPMs, not sure if the other normal engine noises just drown out the subtle rattle or what.

The sound happens at certain rpms, but does not follow the rpms of the engine. For example, the noise sounds the same at 1000 rpms as it does at 1800 rpms, the noise is not 'faster' at 1800 rpms.

I don't think it is the power steering system as it has proper fluid and when I move the steering wheel at a dead stop to 'stress' the system, I hear the PS system, but this noise does not appear.


I have also removed the air box, filter, etc and that was not it, I removed the plastic 16V VVTI cover from the engine and that wasn't it. I removed the fuseable link plastic cover and that wasn't it. I was thinking it may just be one of these plastic covers rattling, but it wasn't.

Anyone have any ideas? Could this possibly be coming from somewhere in the dashboard and not the engine? (I have the fan turned off, so I know that is not it)

I don't care about the noise itself, but in my mind noises usually mean something is going to fail and that is what worries me.

:confused: :headbang: thats a tough one.i listened and it doesnt sound like engine noise.more like a rattle.it might be the noise from the drivers side of the valvetrain many 2az owners hear,but on your vid it sounded different.

Yeah, the valve train noise is more of a tapping noise isn't it? tap tap tap tap that goes faster as the engine RPMs increase.

This noise does not really speed up with engine rpm, it is just more pronounced at certain rpms, but the rhythm of it stays the same speed.

This is a rattle type noise, that seems to be louder at certain rpms than others, but consistent in it's pattern and rhythm.

I know the audio in the clip is not the best, it was from movie mode on my point and shoot camera. I can try and get some better audio to post up.

I had a problem with a car once where a noise a little bit like this (only way louder, more like a buzzing noise) was coming from the tachometer. The dealer put some grease on the plastic gears in the back of the tach and that fixed it for like 2 weeks and it would come back. Eventually they replaced the tach and the speedo in that car to cure the problem, but it was so loud some days it would drown out the radio.

This one as you can see is fairly subtle, but it makes me wonder if it something in the dash rattling (I emptied the glove box, that is not it either)

I think I am going to go the stethoscope route next and just see what I can find. I will start on various parts of the dash since I can't really hear the noise under the hood.

take a video with the hood up outside of the car. Might be a heat shield of some sort. Is your Camry a PZEV? OR does it have the heat shield over the exhaust manifold

^ standing outside the car with the hood up and my ear in at least 10 different positions, I could not hear the noise at all. It can only be heard clearly inside the car.

It is not the heat sheild, mine is tight and does not appear to make any noise at all.

it doesnt sound like metal.. it sounds more of a wobbling sound to me, unless im referring to a different sound..

You can hear it best at 2 seconds in 9 seconds in and at 11 seconds in

I don't think it sounds like metal either, more like plastic, that is why I went nuts with removing or securing plastic panels from under the hood

Is it the kind of like a gurgling noise?

Is it the kind of like a gurgling noise?

A friend of mine said it sounded like a gurgle noise to him, I still say rattle, but I could go with gurgle

Does that mean you have an idea? :) :) :)

A friend of mine said it sounded like a gurgle noise to him, I still say rattle, but I could go with gurgle

Does that mean you have an idea? :) :) :)

Dude you need some meds...its not a Lexus

Dude you need some meds...its not a Lexus

I just turn the radio up, the noise in and of itself does not bother me.

for 38,000 miles, there was no noise, now suddenly at 39,000 there is a noise

You don't think that means something is going to fail on me in the near future?

You ignore when you car suddenly starts making new noises?

Strange...

I just turn the radio up, the noise in and of itself does not bother me.

for 38,000 miles, there was no noise, now suddenly at 39,000 there is a noise

You don't think that means something is going to fail on me in the near future?

You ignore when you car suddenly starts making new noises?

Strange...


Yes ignore...go get yourself a hobby or something

Yes ignore...

Anytime in the past I have done that, I have regretted it.


go get yourself a hobby or something


I have plenty of hobbies, two kids and a wife. It's not like I have nothing better to do than chase noises in my car, thanks for being a jerk though.

I am also taking a 2000 mile trip in this car starting Christmas day.

It is a weird noise; There is an issue of defective intake manifolds, a piece of plastic comes loose inside and rattles around, Research it , not sure if it happens on 05 models. The intake rattle is supposed to sound a bit like pinging when you accelerate.

I've been having that with the warmer weather but my car sounds just fine otherwise. I have an 06 LE i4.

It is a weird noise; There is an issue of defective intake manifolds, a piece of plastic comes loose inside and rattles around, Research it , not sure if it happens on 05 models. The intake rattle is supposed to sound a bit like pinging when you accelerate.

This is what I think it sounds like, but apparently the problem stopped with 2004 models with a revised intake and a TSB noting which VINs needed it. 2005's do not have this issue (or maybe they do, it is just not being admitted)

This is one possible cause I found via search, but didn't think it applied. Thanks though

I've been having that with the warmer weather but my car sounds just fine otherwise. I have an 06 LE i4.

it is really similar to my video? Only noticeable at lower RPMS and only can be heard inside the passenger compartment and not under the hood?

My friend that said it was a gurgle noise made me check the antifreeze level in the radiator, I was SHOCKED

it was about 8OZ low on fluid under the cap and the overflow bottle was below the 'low' indicator.

I topped the radiator off and then filled the overflow bottle about halway between the Full and Low marks, drove the car around for a while and it has been two days now and the noise is gone.

I figured 10 year 120,000 mile service on the radiator in this car and NO obvious leaks anywhere (I have been all over the engine with a flashlight and microscope the past several weeks) I never thought this could be the problem.

Seems to be fine now.

Good advice, NEVER ignore new noises in your car.

My friend that said it was a gurgle noise made me check the antifreeze level in the radiator, I was SHOCKED

it was about 8OZ low on fluid under the cap and the overflow bottle was below the 'low' indicator.

I topped the radiator off and then filled the overflow bottle about halway between the Full and Low marks, drove the car around for a while and it has been two days now and the noise is gone.

I figured 10 year 120,000 mile service on the radiator in this car and NO obvious leaks anywhere (I have been all over the engine with a flashlight and microscope the past several weeks) I never thought this could be the problem.

Seems to be fine now.

Good advice, NEVER ignore new noises in your car.it must have been air serging through your heater core then. I'm glad you found the issue. I hope you used Toyota Red. You CANT mix red and green anti-freeze.

Well I just got an oil change and didn't notice the noise since they top off fluids too.

My friend that said it was a gurgle noise made me check the antifreeze level in the radiator, I was SHOCKED

it was about 8OZ low on fluid under the cap and the overflow bottle was below the 'low' indicator.

I topped the radiator off and then filled the overflow bottle about halway between the Full and Low marks, drove the car around for a while and it has been two days now and the noise is gone.

I figured 10 year 120,000 mile service on the radiator in this car and NO obvious leaks anywhere (I have been all over the engine with a flashlight and microscope the past several weeks) I never thought this could be the problem.

Seems to be fine now.

Good advice, NEVER ignore new noises in your car.

and if you had checked the coolant levels at 30,000 miles (per your maintenance manual), you probably would have never heard a sound.......

and if you had checked the coolant levels at 30,000 miles (per your maintenance manual), .......

and that comment would have been helpful if you posted it a few days ago...