Knocking noise when in gear

[Ace_Laserna]

Hey everyone,
My 02 runner has a knocking noise when I'm in gear and stopped. If j put it in neutral or park it stops. Has anyone experienced this? It sounds like it's coming from the motor but it only does it when in gear waiting at a stoplight
Thanks,
Ace

 

[Jon]

I'm guessing it's and automatic, if so the trans fluid level is low or in need of change along with a filter. You need to pinpoint the noise with a stethoscope to either trans or motor top/bottom end. Good luck

 

[wiretie44]

I have the same thing in my 97 sr5 w 150k it is the exhaust hitting the cross member for the tranny I'm thinking it may be a motor mount I haven't gotten it on a lift yet to see what is allowing the extra movement

 

[Ace_Laserna]

Thanks for the responses guys. I hope it's nothing too costly to fix. I'll have to get under it with the wheels chocked and parking brake on while it's running in gear to find out where it's coming from.
It was hard to tell where it was coming from the other day.

I just bought the runner a couple months ago. It has 161k miles on it, so I'm trying to get everything done on it to give me some peace of mind since I don't know how much the previous owner maintained it.
So far I've gotten the water pump, timing belt and brakes done. The new knocking noise has me a little worried, just running out of cabbage to get things done on it. Trying to save up for tires since I put the OME lift on it.

Well, nothing goes smoothly as usual LOL


-Ace

 

[BrianSD_42]

I had a ticking noise just as you described coming from the engine when in gear and stopped.

In my case, my K&N intake mounts had come apart from the engine bay and were 'ticking' against the metal - but only when in gear.

 

[BrianSD_42]

if you had valve problems I believe the ticking would get worse as it revved up from 1000 to 2500 RPMs, especially in neutral.
.

 

[rjaudi]

When my Dad owned my 4runner I got into it one day and noticed this. That was at 130,000 miles. I replaced a number of things and it still has this light tick. I bought the 4runner from him later and have driven it to 177,000 miles now. Let me know if anyone figures this out. We owned it since day one and it was maintained perfectly.

 

[YotaZach85]

Let the truck warm up to normal temp, shut it off, crawl underneath, pound on the cat wearing a glove or wrap your hand up with something and see if the cat is coming apart inside. Mine had a similar noise and it was the cat coming apart.

BTW, I want that Tundra! 05 quad cab on 37's?!? I think I creamed my pants a little!

 

[attitudeofgratitud]

Hope its not the flex plate. I've seen a quite a few fail,3.4 of course. They'll make some noise when they're getting ready to let go.

 

[fourwd1]

Hey everyone,
My 02 runner has a knocking noise when I'm in gear and stopped. If j put it in neutral or park it stops. Has anyone experienced this? It sounds like it's coming from the motor but it only does it when in gear waiting at a stoplight
Thanks,
Ace

Long time no see Ace, how's the wife and family ?

 

[tns1]

Hey everyone,
My 02 runner has a knocking noise when I'm in gear and stopped. If j put it in neutral or park it stops. Has anyone experienced this? It sounds like it's coming from the motor but it only does it when in gear waiting at a stoplight
Thanks,
Ace

I have a noise on a 98 for the same conditions so I am interested in what you find. Mine is a random metal rapping noise only while in gear and sounds like some small part has come loose internally. I was able to record it using an mp3 player.

 

[broncosi]

any reports back on this?

 

[IBobi]

'02 4runner 113K same noise

When in gear, loudest while idling at a stop with brake applied. Noise has been occurring since timing belt replacement 1K ago. No previous problems with vehicle at all in the 6 months I've owned it (bought at 105K).

As soon as it's in neutral there's no noise I can discern. And when revving the noise either disappears or is swallowed up by other engine sounds.

From what I read here it really sounds like the belts were put in too tight; I assume this is something the shop that did the timing belt replacement should do for free?

Thanks guys.

 

[sabre65]

I have the same knocking sound. It is not a tick that would come from a valve train issue. The fact that it goes away when in neutral, park or when the revs are increased is puzzling. Anyone figure this out yet?

 

[1sick4runner]

my buddies is doing the same thing, anybody figure it out?

 

[IBobi]

Mines now at 149k, still making the noise.

Shop guy told me it was the trans & offered to rebuild it for $1800. I haven't done it because it hasn't gotten worse after another 35k miles & that's an expensive repair for something I'm not even sure will fix it.

Very frustrating that it seemed to start after the timing belt was replaced.

 

[tns1]

Mine turned out to be the torque converter. The noise was a very random metallic rap, noisiest with the truck idling & in gear. I posted an audio file at the link below. When I dropped the trans pan there was a good qty of metal paste coating everything. One possible cause is a clogged or failing trans solenoid valve that controls the lockup converter clutch. With 200k miles, I decided to put in a rebuilt trans + converter. It is now 40k miles later and things are good.

More here:
1998 4runner ltd 4wd with noisy tranny - YotaTech Forums

 

[02-Sport]

I have the same knocking sound. It is not a tick that would come from a valve train issue. The fact that it goes away when in neutral, park or when the revs are increased is puzzling. Anyone figure this out yet?

My 02 I had did the exact same thing. Had it checked out and the mechanic was just guessing at what could be wrong, I didn't want to throw money at guesses.
It had a little over 200k when I sold it. I don't think it was something major but it drove me crazy. Best i can remember I could fell the knocking when I put my hand on the shifter as well.
The only reason I sold it was a buddy of mine (93toy) had his 2000 for sale and he was very meticulous with maintenance and detailing!!

 

[1sick4runner]

we have figured it out. when taking the 4runners in to have the oil changed, the tech there are lazy you know whats and when removing the bolts that hold the plate on to access the oil filter didnt put all the bolt back in when done. my buddy was missing 2 bolts and when in idle and in gear the skid pan would rattle against the frame. if you pushed up where the bolts were missing it stopped rattling. 2 new bolts and problem solved.

 

[1sick4runner]

did you guys ever check this out and notice if the bolt were missing? it sounded just like knocking in the motor from under the hood and from listening inside the wheel well.