Engine Rattle - Help Please!

[ParotHead]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 2005 4Runner Limited V8 4x2. 198,000 miles on it.

Recently, in the last 2 months or so, it has started making this rattling sound after cold startup, but only for about a minute or so and then it goes away. I live in San Diego and the 4Runner is garaged at night, so it's not freezing overnight. I've been doing regular oil changes - 3k - 4k miles - with semi-synthetic 5W30.

From the little bit of Google research I've done, it could be anything from piston slap to rod knock to cancer... j/k, but you know how internet research goes.

I've posted a couple links to the sound below... they were taken with my phone placed on top of the dash, because that's the only way I can really capture it, so I apologize for the bad quality. I can re-record tomorrow morning and try to get better audio if necessary.

Please let me know if you have any questions and any help is greatly appreciated.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1apQiAZyft9THHyOAEnLMlpJrxEWmeMdm/view?usp=sharing (rattling sound begins at about 3 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UggcrD2wu5PsfenUU8dHPuejNqnBrRN_/view?usp=sharing (rattling sound begins at about 7 seconds)

Thanks in advance...

 

[oljedi11950]

I didn't listen but that old check heat shields above y-pipe area ! Ok to remove I did on 05

 

[AuSeeker]

Does it make this rattle when in park or only when driving away or both?

 

[ParotHead]

Hi,

Only when driving away. No sound in park at all.

Thanks.

 

[AuSeeker]

OK, I also think it may be the exhaust heat shield/s as well.

Hard to tell from the sound recording but it could be a cracked header/exhaust manifold, but that usually has a ticking sound.

But if it turns out it a piston slap I don't think you need to worry it too much as these V8 sometimes tends to have a piston slap until it warms up and usually has no adverse affects on the life of the engine.

Doesn't sound like any rod knock I have ever heard.

 

[ParotHead]

Thanks Jedi and Seeker,

I'll check out the heat shield. Will a heat shield rattle stop after a minute or so of driving, though?

 

[Krommeweg]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 2005 4Runner Limited V8 4x2. 198,000 miles on it.

Recently, in the last 2 months or so, it has started making this rattling sound after cold startup, but only for about a minute or so and then it goes away. I live in San Diego and the 4Runner is garaged at night, so it's not freezing overnight. I've been doing regular oil changes - 3k - 4k miles - with semi-synthetic 5W30.

From the little bit of Google research I've done, it could be anything from piston slap to rod knock to cancer... j/k, but you know how internet research goes.

Thanks in advance...

I have a 1999 3rd Gen, with the 3.4. Similar mileage.

I had almost exactly the same noise between 1,500 - 2,000 RPM. It turned out to be the heat shield on top of my catalytic converter. Half the welds had broken loose. Mine was consistent in that RPM range, and did seem to stop after 15ish minutes of driving.

It took me 10 minutes to climb underneath (when the car is cold!) and shake everything looking for movement. It was obvious once I checked the cat. I removed the heat shield entirely, have had no heat or exhaust issues since then. (I live in Alaska, so overheating is not a huge issue).

Hope this helps! At least it won't take long to check, haha.

 

[oljedi11950]

Those lil tiny ass nuts don't leave a lot area to tighten down so get rid of them if that happens to be it !

 

[ParotHead]

Thanks! I'll have to crawl under there and check out the welds...

I hope it's something as simple as that... the Runner drives perfectly other than that and I just finished a Bilstein/FJ shock and coil job on it, so I'd hate for it to be anything that I need to get rid of the truck for...