Repair/grasping at straws

T

Traveler74

New member
1996 3.4 liter, is running but the engine has started making a noise that I can not yet pin point. NOT driving it at all.
Wondering if the noise MIGHT be any one of the pullies or oil pump, water pump, a/c compressor, alternator or power steering pump.

I realize that this is a bit extreme but what if I removed the belts , started the truck and ran it for 10 seconds or less ? I'd know immediately if one or more pullies was the problem. It couldn't cause any more damage than a broken belt ?

If the noise continued, I'd know for certain that it was an engine interior problem and I'd sell it for whatever I could get.

Please don't tell me I'm ignorant. I already know that.
 
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maybe try spraying any suspected pulleys where the bearing is with wd40 or something and see if the noise changes or goes away, that would indicate a bearing going out or something similar. what sort of noise is it making?
 
That's not a bad idea at all.
Sure take the belts off or loosen them.
You can run it for longer than 10 seconds.
Are you sure all the belts are tight?

You could also buy an inexpensive mechanics stethoscope that might help find the problem.
Mechanic'''s Stethoscope
 
Traveler74 said:
1996 3.4 liter, is running but the engine has started making a noise that I can not yet pin point. NOT driving it at all.
Wondering if the noise MIGHT be any one of the pullies or oil pump, water pump, a/c compressor, alternator or power steering pump.

I realize that this is a bit extreme but what if I removed the belts , started the truck and ran it for 10 seconds or less ? I'd know immediately if one or more pullies was the problem. It couldn't cause any more damage than a broken belt ?

If the noise continued, I'd know for certain that it was an engine interior problem and I'd sell it for whatever I could get.

Please don't tell me I'm ignorant. I already know that.
Click to expand...
A video would be more than helpful
The truck can run without the belts for short durations, we have non-interfering valvetrains so not like you're gonna smoke a valve or anything by letting it run for a minute. You could also remove one belt at a time if you're real concerned
alumarine said:
That's not a bad idea at all.
Sure take the belts off or loosen them.
You can run it for longer than 10 seconds.
Are you sure all the belts are tight?

You could also buy an inexpensive mechanics stethoscope that might help find the problem.
Mechanic'''s Stethoscope
Click to expand...
I was gonna say you can just use a long socket extension, but for only $4.99 for a little "professional" unit, you can't really beat that! :boink:
 
Devbot said:
A video would be more than helpful
The truck can run without the belts for short durations, we have non-interfering valvetrains so not like you're gonna smoke a valve or anything by letting it run for a minute. You could also remove one belt at a time if you're real concerned

I was gonna say you can just use a long socket extension, but for only $4.99 for a little "professional" unit, you can't really beat that! :boink:
Click to expand...

I already tried the long socket extensions and it was no help. As odd as it may seem, the noise APPEARED to be somewhat louder from the top of the throttle body. But no at the base. Hmm ?????
 
RandyBobandy said:
maybe try spraying any suspected pulleys where the bearing is with wd40 or something and see if the noise changes or goes away, that would indicate a bearing going out or something similar. what sort of noise is it making?
Click to expand...


Being so uneducated in auto mechanic's I can't really begin to describe the noise. I would say that it is a high pitched noise that gets very much louder as I slightly REV the engine. It does sound a LITTLE BIT like a grinding noise. It does NOT sound like a high pitched "squeal".

Not positive that the belts are PRECISELY tightened. Toyota is so much more "touchy" than anything I've ever come in contact with. All the electronic this and electronic that, is throwing me for a loop.
 
Traveler74 said:
I already tried the long socket extensions and it was no help. As odd as it may seem, the noise APPEARED to be somewhat louder from the top of the throttle body. But no at the base. Hmm ?????
Click to expand...

It's coming from around the throttle body you say?? Very interesting
 
Traveler74 said:
Being so uneducated in auto mechanic's I can't really begin to describe the noise. I would say that it is a high pitched noise that gets very much louder as I slightly REV the engine. It does sound a LITTLE BIT like a grinding noise. It does NOT sound like a high pitched "squeal".

Not positive that the belts are PRECISELY tightened. Toyota is so much more "touchy" than anything I've ever come in contact with. All the electronic this and electronic that, is throwing me for a loop.
Click to expand...

Does the sound change if you turn the A/C on and off? Im wondering about the idler pulley for the A/C compressor. I had one start going bad and it made a scraping or kind of grinding noise. The combination of the bearings going and the A/C clutch was a strange sound.

Very simple fix and I think the part was maybe $20
 
sleepydad said:
Does the sound change if you turn the A/C on and off? Im wondering about the idler pulley for the A/C compressor. I had one start going bad and it made a scraping or kind of grinding noise. The combination of the bearings going and the A/C clutch was a strange sound.

Very simple fix and I think the part was maybe $20
Click to expand...

I had not thought of turning on the A/C. Will do so tomorrow.
 
19963.4lsr5 said:
What if it’s a vacuum leak?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Are you saying that a vacuum leak is causing the noise ? Or that the vacuum leak is effecting something else which is causing the noise ?

It any event, I think the noise is metal on metal. Pully bearings, or sticking lifter ?
 
Traveler74 said:
Are you saying that a vacuum leak is causing the noise ? Or that the vacuum leak is effecting something else which is causing the noise ?

It any event, I think the noise is metal on metal. Pully bearings, or sticking lifter ?
Click to expand...


A vacuum leak will make a shrill whistle noise like a squeak.

Can you post a video of the noise?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
sleepydad said:
Does the sound change if you turn the A/C on and off? Im wondering about the idler pulley for the A/C compressor. I had one start going bad and it made a scraping or kind of grinding noise. The combination of the bearings going and the A/C clutch was a strange sound.

Very simple fix and I think the part was maybe $20
Click to expand...

Sleepydad, I just ran the truck and the A/C. There was NO change in the pitch or loudness of the noise. I switched the A/C on and off several times just to be certain.
 
You say it’s comming from around the throttle body, correct?

Get a piece of hose a few feet long and put one end to your ear and probe around with the other end until you pin point the source of the noise.

If you pull all the belts off and run the engine and the noise is still there it’s not a bearing going bad.

There is a vacuum line that goes from the bottom of the IAC to a T fitting and to both sides of the intake manifold.

Also if you do not put the metal gasket on the throttle body correctly you will have a vacuum leak.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
19963.4lsr5 said:
You say it’s comming from around the throttle body, correct?

Get a piece of hose a few feet long and put one end to your ear and probe around with the other end until you pin point the source of the noise.

If you pull all the belts off and run the engine and the noise is still there it’s not a bearing going bad.

There is a vacuum line that goes from the bottom of the IAC to a T fitting and to both sides of the intake manifold.

Also if you do not put the metal gasket on the throttle body correctly you will have a vacuum leak.
Click to expand...


Ok. I am familiar with that vacuum line. What are you suggesting that I do with it ?

Have not yet removed the throttle body for cleaning, so I think that the gasket could not be the cause of the noise.

Amongst other things I will be doing, including removing the belts, I will be adding Motor Medic engine flush to the existing oil. Many youtube videos speak highly of it. Especially the potential of freeing up sticking lifter(s).
 
You could also spray some brake cleaner around where the noise is coming from and see if the idle changes, that would confirm a vacuum leak
 
Traveler74 said:
but what if I removed the belts , started the truck and ran it for 10 seconds or less ? I'd know immediately if one or more pullies was the problem. It couldn't cause any more damage than a broken belt ?
If the noise continued, I'd know for certain that it was an engine interior problem

Please don't tell me I'm ignorant. I already know that.
Click to expand...

With thinking like that your last sentence doesn't belong in the conversation.

Roll with it, Engine sell it, Accessories belts on one at a time, sounds like a plan.
Might make money parting it out.
 
Grinding spinning noise from the throttle body? Sounds like the idle air control valve. I think it had a spinning part. Does she idle oddly?
 
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