Strange Noise - HELP

scottblink23

scottblink23

New member
While I know that trying to diagnose a problem without hearing the noise is COMPLETELY annoying (I apologize) :sorry: , I'm hoping someone knows exactly what I'm talking about and can assist. If not, be gentle.

This noise is coming from the front of my 4R. I only hear it when I'm in DRIVE but I am stopped completely at a red light, stop sign, etc. If I'm at the red light and I shift into Neutral, it goes away. If I turn the heater/AC off, the noise stops for a second then returns.

I parked in my driveway, lifted the hood and got a buddy of mine to see if he could tell where the noise was coming from, but he couldn't.

THE NOISE - it's not a belt sound, more of a vibration. Like the noise you can make with your mouth if you put your tongue on the roof of your mouth and blow air out of your mouth. As I type this, I know how ridiculous it sounds, so I'll apologize again. It's constant but as soon as I let my foot off the brake to start driving, it goes away. If I coast, it's not there. It only happens when I'm in DRIVE but I'm completely stopped.

Any advice would be appreciated. I don't know if my lift has anything to do with, but I did just install a 3 inch OME lift and I don't remember hearing the noise before...

Thanks!
 
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fdbyrne said:
Another possible but less likely cause would be a motor mount.
Click to expand...

The vibration isn't aggressive and the noise/vibration doesn't happen while thee engine is under heavy acceleration or enging revving .. just at idle.

I am going to take it in this weekend to my local mechanic to see what's up.
 
I have the exact same noise. I've only noticed it since it got cold out. Thought maybe it had something to do with the cold weather but probably not. Please post what you find out.
 
FYI. The reason I said that it might be a motor mount is because I had the same symptoms that you described on one of my vehicles a year or so ago. It wasn't a 4runner but the symptoms were identical.

I replaced my plugs, wires, and much of the EGR system before I gave up and took it to the dealer. A few hours later it was running like new with only a motor mount being swapped out.

That most likely isn't your problem but don't start chasing unicorns until you've ruled it out.
 
brianhuntRVA said:
I have the exact same noise. I've only noticed it since it got cold out. Thought maybe it had something to do with the cold weather but probably not. Please post what you find out.
Click to expand...

Will do.

fdbyrne said:
FYI. The reason I said that it might be a motor mount is because I had the same symptoms that you described on one of my vehicles a year or so ago. It wasn't a 4runner but the symptoms were identical.

I replaced my plugs, wires, and much of the EGR system before I gave up and took it to the dealer. A few hours later it was running like new with only a motor mount being swapped out.

That most likely isn't your problem but don't start chasing unicorns until you've ruled it out.
Click to expand...

Thanks man - when I drop it off I'm definitely going to tell my mechanic to check the motor mount in addition to the idle belt / tension pulley to cover my bases. My mechanic is super nice and he lets me act like I know what I'm talking about whenever I go see him.
 
scottblink23 said:
While I know that trying to diagnose a problem without hearing the noise is COMPLETELY annoying (I apologize) :sorry: , I'm hoping someone knows exactly what I'm talking about and can assist. If not, be gentle.

This noise is coming from the front of my 4R. I only hear it when I'm in DRIVE but I am stopped completely at a red light, stop sign, etc. If I'm at the red light and I shift into Neutral, it goes away. If I turn the heater/AC off, the noise stops for a second then returns.

I parked in my driveway, lifted the hood and got a buddy of mine to see if he could tell where the noise was coming from, but he couldn't.

THE NOISE - it's not a belt sound, more of a vibration. Like the noise you can make with your mouth if you put your tongue on the roof of your mouth and blow air out of your mouth. As I type this, I know how ridiculous it sounds, so I'll apologize again. It's constant but as soon as I let my foot off the brake to start driving, it goes away. If I coast, it's not there. It only happens when I'm in DRIVE but I'm completely stopped.

Any advice would be appreciated. I don't know if my lift has anything to do with, but I did just install a 3 inch OME lift and I don't remember hearing the noise before...

Thanks!
Click to expand...

can you get some video/audio?

it sounds like maybe something is vibrating/rubbing.
 
I don't hear anything on the video unfortunately.

scottblink23 said:
bump - video added
Click to expand...

Try this,

Put your car in drive, set the e-brake, get out and and look around. If you have something, chock the wheels for good measure.

Have someone do the Neutral/ Drive shuffle for you if you can. Or the AC/Heat on/ off cycle.

If you think you're getting close to the area with the noise but its tough to tell exactly what it is, get a piece of hose (1/4" ID or larger) put one end to your ear, the other end poke it around in the area you think the noise is coming from. Press it up against things. Its like a stethoscope for your car. (They make those btw, this is a ghetto way of doing it.)


Unrelated but similar.... I've been having vibrations and a deep rattle from my new RCI skids, but it only happens when I start my truck, my wheels are turned left and my truck is at a slight incline. I sh!t you not.... I still don't know exactly what part is shaking, but i've torqued the crap out of the bolts so I don't know what else to do.

GL sir, try my suggestion and let us know if it helps.
 
swapmeet said:
I don't hear anything on the video unfortunately.



Try this,

Put your car in drive, set the e-brake, get out and and look around. If you have something, chock the wheels for good measure.

Have someone do the Neutral/ Drive shuffle for you if you can. Or the AC/Heat on/ off cycle.

If you think you're getting close to the area with the noise but its tough to tell exactly what it is, get a piece of hose (1/4" ID or larger) put one end to your ear, the other end poke it around in the area you think the noise is coming from. Press it up against things. Its like a stethoscope for your car. (They make those btw, this is a ghetto way of doing it.)


Unrelated but similar.... I've been having vibrations and a deep rattle from my new RCI skids, but it only happens when I start my truck, my wheels are turned left and my truck is at a slight incline. I sh!t you not.... I still don't know exactly what part is shaking, but i've torqued the crap out of the bolts so I don't know what else to do.

GL sir, try my suggestion and let us know if it helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks man - I'll try this. My father-in-law is great at ghetto-rigging tools so I'll ask him to hook me up.

I did install a brush guard and lift recently so it might have to do with that.
 
I wish I had some input, I really am trying to think of what it could be...

I like to use like a 1ft screw driver as a make shift stethoscope (if you wanna be really fancy, the wood handled ones transmit the best sound, I'd say its a warmer note than those futuristic plastic crap! :P ) and poke around where you might be hearing the noise.
 
swapmeet said:
Unrelated but similar.... I've been having vibrations and a deep rattle from my new RCI skids, but it only happens when I start my truck, my wheels are turned left and my truck is at a slight incline. I sh!t you not.... I still don't know exactly what part is shaking, but i've torqued the crap out of the bolts so I don't know what else to do.

GL sir, try my suggestion and let us know if it helps.
Click to expand...

Granted I have the v-6, shortly after install of my RCI, had to remove
the factory wanna be skid off the transfer case. Then after a couple of
undercarriage beatings, rebend the plate around the exhaust pipe.
Shot in the dark, had similar noises with mine.
 
BlackWorksInc said:
I wish I had some input, I really am trying to think of what it could be...

I like to use like a 1ft screw driver as a make shift stethoscope (if you wanna be really fancy, the wood handled ones transmit the best sound, I'd say its a warmer note than those futuristic plastic crap! :P ) and poke around where you might be hearing the noise.
Click to expand...

Thanks man - I appreciate you posting. My driveway is on an incline, so I'm going to e-brake it this weekend and choke the tires. Hopefully I'll be able to tell what it is.
 
FTI my strange rumbling/vibrating noise was coming from the skid plate. Apparently the PO had broken the head off one of the bolts that holds it on and never extracted or replaced the bolt. So it had enough play to rattle around. Strange thing is I have owned it 6 months and it only recently started making that noise.
 
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