Weird noise, can't diagnose - help!!

[sooner02r1]

Hey guys, my 98 4x4 limited v6 started making this sound. It's a tin can, rattling sound, not very loud, from 1500-2200rpm, increases some with speed up to a point, probably 30mph, then it sounds the same no matter how fast, but becomes less audible at highway speed. Also it doesn't do it all the time, just here and there. It does not do it in neutral or reverse, and I couldn't reproduce it with the rear end on jack stands. Anybody heard this? Or have any idea what it could be?? Thanks guys.

 

[awdjunkies]

Easiest/cheapest/best way to start to diagnose rattles and such is to check for missing or lose bolts. Especially if it sounds like a tin can. Also you didn't specify where it was coming from so I am assuming you haven't quite narrowed it down yet?

 

[Brignola85]

Sounds like a classic loose heat shield. Torque the nuts down all around your exhaust. If that doesn't fix it, pop your front wheels off and make sure your rattle shields are on properly. Those are the little pop on shields that sit over your brake pads toward the front of your caliper. (it took me 3 months to find that one, and I thought I had checked EVERYTHING.)

 

[Running4life]

I agree with the heatshields but also check your skid plate bolts. Had my car aligned two days ago and they left the bolts loose.

 

[revenantdead]

dont forget the backing plates behind the calipers. if they're out of whack they can scrape on the rotors

 

[sooner02r1]

I'll check those things out tomorrow. Also gonna check the tranny and motor mounts. btw the sound only happens under a load, doesn't do it in neutral or while coasting. also the motor revs smoothly and accelerates good, and the tranny shifts normally and engages 4x4 normally so I don't think it's internal.

 

[hungryeddy]

i hear a similar sound when i'm shifting from first to second and second to third on highway on ramps... not sure if this would be the same thing, but i'm gonna get under and check those shields... it doesn't do it between other gears tho... and i feel whatever it is on my shifter knob

 

[masphx]

Does it sound like this? Still cant find where this sound is coming from

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/101332-help-me-diagnose-sound.html

Mason

 

[cordrayj1]

i hear a similar sound when i'm shifting from first to second and second to third on highway on ramps... not sure if this would be the same thing, but i'm gonna get under and check those shields... it doesn't do it between other gears tho... and i feel whatever it is on my shifter knob

heat shields. as you step on the gas getting up to speed?

 

[hungryeddy]

no... more like when my RPMs are dropping in between gears when i'm clutched... mostly when i'm flooring it to get on highways

 

[sooner02r1]

Well everybody was wrong, I had some dry u-joints. I changed all diff and tcase and tranny fluids and the noise persisted. greased the u-joints and it's gone! whew! glad I caught it before they self destructed and glad it wasn't the tranny or tcase!

 

[awdjunkies]

Well everybody was wrong, I had some dry u-joints. I changed all diff and tcase and tranny fluids and the noise persisted. greased the u-joints and it's gone! whew! glad I caught it before they self destructed and glad it wasn't the tranny or tcase!

Well, everyone being wrong led up to the discovery correct? Sounds like a win-win situation !!!!

 

[johnnyhightrain]

Best squeaky noise troubleshooting tool is a can of silicone lubricant and spray stuff down real good to try to see if it slowly fades or goes away.
(if you can pinpoint the area/location of noise

 

[sooner02r1]

yep! I'm just glad the noise is gone and my drive shaft didn't grenade going down the highway!

 

[MATTALLICA]

heat shield or exhaust bracket