Sounds like the timing chain has stretched...a common problem with high mileage Corollas.I suggest you get it fixed before it get worst.A loose accessory pulley could also make that noise. Also, check your hood for tightness because they tend to rattle a lot when the engine is at low rpm.To test: close the hood and have someone press on the front of the hood while you listen to the engine.

 

The "rattle" sounds very faint in the video and sounds more like the rattle of another sheet metal piece like a heat shield than anything engine related.

It's common for the 1ZZ-FE to have valve tic and clatter, especially at high mileage, since the valves are usually never adjusted or shimmed from stock and they don't have auto hydraulic adjustment like so many other modern engines.

I would say the best way to locate the rattle would be to have a second person look at the engine compartment with the hood open and/or under the vehicle while lying on the ground, while the engine is revved to cause the noise repeatedly until it's located.

If the exhaust manifold heat shield rusted away, it might just be another heat shield falling apart of that came partly loose and is vibrating.

One other source of engine rattle/noise on these can be the power steering pump pulley, if the mounting bolt gets a little loose, and it can just be tightened up on the engine with a ratchet and socket to quiet it back down again. If you have the tools, you might even just try tightening it down some to be sure it's good.

 

Thank you all.

Took the car to my mechanic and he thinks it could be the tensioner. It sure is making quite the racket. Car has 208.000 km, not miles

 

Yes,its possible the tentioner is kaput...happens a lot on these cars.

 

I am thinking of contacting Newmarket Toyota and getting a cost from them. I do not want to cheap out on this at all. Even if the car is 20 years old it is worth it to us to get it done correctly

 

I haven't done all that much research on the topic yet. But through basic searching have found some people saying the ones toyota makes now are not as good as the ones they used to make. The part number for the OE tensioner is N.L.A. and supersedes to the one they use on the matrix from like 2003 generation I think.


My original tensioner is stamped made in germany. The contintental elite tensioner ($90) is marked manufactured in Slovakia (sp?). I purchased a supposed OEM toyota tensioner from amazon ($110-20?) but believe I picked the wrong seller to get it from. Did not come in toyota packaging and seems to be nearly identical to the continental tensioner also marked being manufactured in Slovakia.

Not really sure but I can tell you the OE german tensioner is still worlds better. And will even handle the crappy engine belt I have on it now. One issue is the rubber is slit and fluid leaks from it but yet in this condition it is still preforming way better then the others. Not sure what to make if it. But the $200 i have tied up in it could have gotten one from the dealer with less headaches.

 

Sounds like the tensioner to me also. Mine went bad and sounded just like that. It was a failed $0.05 bushing in the hydraulic tensioning device.

 

It still sounded to me more like a panel/shield rattle in the video, but it's not unusual for the belt tensioners on these to start going at high mileage, as mentioned. Usually the bushings in the hydraulic cylinder or the bearings in the tensioner pulley start to go. It's possible to repair them but given the critical nature of the tensioner and the improvements in the newer OEM tensioner, you're definitely better off just spending the money and getting something that will both fix the issue and last a good while. The OE tensioners can last 200,000+ miles.

As for price, you can get them on amazon or at a discounted price from most online Toyota dealer parts departments.

Sometimes your local dealer might price match the lowest online price you can find from another Toyota dealer, but they might not include sales tax but it may be worth it if they can get it for you faster.

 

Hey man Just incase check the drive shaft as well.I had the same problem for my 01 corolla.I thought it wouldve been the engine mount but it turned out to be a loose drive shaft on the right.

 

Has anyone bought an OEM tensioner from the dealer recently for one of these cars? I'm interested to know where it was manufactured.

 

Tensioner and Pulley and belts were at fault. Car is great now and sounds 110% better. Now I am getting a new stereo for it and getting rear speakers installed since my daughter will not let me drive her 2004 S

 

Was this a Dealer repair?
If you don’t mind telling us, what was the breakdown of the repair cost.
Thanks.

 

It is an DIY job if you're mechanically inclined a little bit or have a basic tools. I am thinking of changing those parts in my 01 Corolla S.