Whining Noise From Engine

LaO_T4R

New member
2014 Toyota 4Runner Trail Edition
66k Miles
NO engine/performance mods.
Yes, maintenance is up to date.
Yes, I used the search bar tool.


http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/181270-need-some-help-engine-whine-not-accessories.html
This thread seemed to be heading in the right direction with maybe the same problem, but it died off.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/138835-engine-whine-under-acceleration.html
Another thread.. sounds like the same problem...directed to this thread below..

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/127385-whistling-sound-under-moderate-load-anyone.html
According to this thread.. everyone accepts it may be "normal". That's if its the same noise I'm hearing.

All other threads that came up seemed to cover valve chatter and whistling noises not similar to my issue.

*I will post a video as soon as I can for reference, I know this will help.*

The noise started all of a sudden roughly a month ago.
The noise occurs in park, neutral, and when driving.
Starts around 1200-1500 RPM
Very obvious noise and rather annoying.
Noise still there when belt is off.
My fiances' 14' Limited with 40k does not do it.
My buddy's 14' Trail with 55k does not do it.

Now that I've covered all that... I'm reaching out for any help, experience, or knowledge on this particular issue.
The noise sounds exactly like a bad idler,alternator, etc. coming from the top on the intake manifold, more so on the driver side of the vehicle.
Here is my experience so far...

I'm not a complete idiot when it comes to mechanical items...and I knew from the get go, this was not a noise coming from any of the idlers, pulleys, pumps, or alternator after spending a good while all around the truck with a buddy checking all the obvious stuff. After finding nothing (obvious), I decided to bring it to Toyota for a "professional" opinion and let warranty handle it.

Brought it to the first Toyota dealership.
Technician claimed to "barely" hear anything.
First, said he thought it was my wheel bearings because of my "big" tires.
...Told him no buddy, it does it while sitting still, in park.
So he looked at it again, then says, "All we can suggest is its the alternator"

Right on.
Okay you're the Tech. Warranty will cover it. Change it.
I understand sounds and vibrations have odd ways of travelling, so I was hoping for him to be right and prove me wrong.

Go to pick my rig up, they hand over the keys and say I'm good to go and its fixed!
Noise is still there.. went back and talked to the technician.
This guy still seems like he cant hear it... then tells me to come back Monday and they'll have the Master Technician take a look at it.

Not doing that.. didn't feel comfortable with this dealership any longer.
I leave there and go straight to another dealership.

I pull up over there, explain to these guys whats going on, and pretty much tell them I do not want to waste another $100 on a diagnostic fee if I'm the crazy one hearing stuff and there is no noise...
I crank it up and the service adviser immediately hears it..
So he kindly takes it back to the shop, without me having an appointment, and has his guys looks at it.
The Service Adviser, a Master Tech, and another Tech all come out and talk to me. They apologize for not being able to start on it today, but they all acknowledge the noise and say its pretty loud. Tell me to come back Monday and they'll dig in.

Drop the rig off Monday... couple hours later they call back.
They removed the belt. Noise is still there.
So they have officially eliminated any idlers, pulleys, pumps, etc.
The even checked the first and secondary vacuum pumps.
Then they hit me with the bad news.
They compared my noise to 3 other trucks around the shop with around the same mileage, and claim they have the same noise...so here we go, starting to sound like a normal sound now.

They apologized and admitted that they don't know exactly what the noise is and what is causing it, but being that 3 other vehicles had the noise, they chose not to get deep into the engine. (I personally did not hear the 3 other engines) They recommended I keep driving like normal, and if gets louder to bring it back, and that if something major comes of this, it would fall back on them because of the documents stating they looked at it, and sent me on my way saying its fine.

So here I am. Sorry I had to rant a little bit.
I want to know what is causing this noise all of a sudden, and if it comes down to it being normal... WHY? Why is it normal. WHAT exactly is causing this noise? Are the intake manifolds on these engines more complex than I think? Is this a noise coming from the heads? I have no idea anymore.
I feel like there should be some explanation considering the engine has been around a while with Toyota.
The noise is an issue for me, its embarrassing, and its driving me towards selling my rig honestly.
I guess I'm not just one to accept odd noises out of the blue and go on with it!

Thanks in advance to anyone with input on this issue.
 
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I have a 2011 with 64k miles and I'm noticing the same thing. Sounds like a mild idler pulley whine. I pulled the two upper ones and one of them felt suspect. I replaced it and the whine is still there. I haven't run it with the belt off, but I suspect it would be the same as yours.

Sorry I don't have a solution for you. I'm going to keep looking at mine and will let you know if I figure it out.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
 
I have a 2011 with 64k miles and I'm noticing the same thing. Sounds like a mild idler pulley whine. I pulled the two upper ones and one of them felt suspect. I replaced it and the whine is still there. I haven't run it with the belt off, but I suspect it would be the same as yours.

Sorry I don't have a solution for you. I'm going to keep looking at mine and will let you know if I figure it out.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

No worries, thanks for the input. That was my point of reaching out on the forum, to see just how normal or abnormal this noise may be.

The confusion for me comes in at the different variables..
Some people claim to hear it, some people don't.
Mileage differences.
Year model differences.
etc..
 
Check it all out tonight - not great news.

I went in tonight to see if I could isolate the noise. I pulled the belt and turned it on. Same as yours, sound still continued. All of my pulleys turn very freely as well. I took off the V-Bank cover and the sound is definitely coming from within that, or at least under there somewhere.

I am going to do a bunch of research in the repair manual and see if I can figure out what it might be. I'll post if I find anything. I'm not sure I want to dig in just yet. I'm heading to Moab in a couple of weeks and I'll see if it's worse after that trip.
 
In the video at low rpms like that with no load it’s most likely a pulley or accessory.
At higher RPMS under heavy load like when I floor it I have a whine which I believe to be the chain and I believe to be normal...
Not saying this is your noise but just giving ideas

These are not exactly quiet trucks. I have a noise that INFURIATES me but ALL 4runners do it as I’ve heard atleast 12 now. It’s a light pulley noise just off idle very light RPMS and only lasts a second. Most noticeable when taking off from a stop especially next to a wall or drive through. MY noise has been isolated by Toyota already and was found to be transmission fluid circulating around the pump area. It was loudest on the pan or bell housing area of the trans and at first Toyota thought it was a bearing. A few engineers were involved but ultimately it was considered “normal”. I called B.S. but was able to listen to as many as I wanted in the parking lot of they’re store. I’m still not excited about the noise but it doesn’t worry me atleast.
 
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I have the same noise and had the same exact dealer experiance as the OP. It started last spring, noticed it in the garage at first, now I can hear it pretty much all the time. If you listen under the engine, you'll notice it there as well. I almost think it's the transmission pump, definately engine RPM related. I took out the Toyota extended warranty because of it.
 
I have a 2011 and notice that noise too. Seems to be normal operation, and heard it on other 2010-2012's that I test drove before buying mine. I figured it was just a characteristic of this V6.
 
Same whine on my 2012. Been that way since I bought it with 54K a year and a half ago. It now has 94k with no audible changes, i.e. it hasn't gotten any louder.

I did replace all 3 idlers a little while ago as I found 2 of them to have some play. No change after doing that.

I have no clue what it is but it certainly does seem to be normal from what I read.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
There was a very similar thread on the FJ forum a couple years ago.
He was below 20K miles and the noise started, they went as far as digging into the front of the engine and changing the timing chain and tensioner.

Still there.

He finally got fed up with it being in the shop and worrying about it and traded for a Rubicon. :der:

He believed it to be the transmission pump by the end of the ordeal, but was just tired of dealing with it.
 
My truck has a major whine under acceleration LOL. Joking, I know what that is.

Back to the OP...

From everything said so far (eliminating everything from the accessory side if the equation). That type of noise can be from a gear rotor pump. That leaves us with the oil pump and the transmission pump. My guess would be the transmission also. I doubt it is really indicative of a short term failure.

I'm still just guessing though based on the information presented here and not hearing it myself.

I doubt Toyota would change it out because of a noise though.

One question. Does the noise change at all with operating temps?
 
My truck has a major whine under acceleration LOL. Joking, I know what that is.

Back to the OP...

From everything said so far (eliminating everything from the accessory side if the equation). That type of noise can be from a gear rotor pump. That leaves us with the oil pump and the transmission pump. My guess would be the transmission also. I doubt it is really indicative of a short term failure.

I'm still just guessing though based on the information presented here and not hearing it myself.

I doubt Toyota would change it out because of a noise though.

One question. Does the noise change at all with operating temps?

The noise does not change with operating temperature.

It's a bit more comforting I guess now that I know a good amount of people have this same issue/noise.
But I still would like to know why.

It's beginning to be a more popular topic popping up through FB groups and pages as well, but no one has answers..
 
It's beginning to be a more popular topic popping up through FB groups and pages as well, but no one has answers..

You could always trade if for a Rubicon.
Then you'll have something to whine about :baby:

It's frustrating, especially if you're nearing the end of a warranty and faced with the potential of a VERY expensive repair.

Aluminum carries sound well, so it makes it hard to pinpoint on the engine.

Oil pump maybe?

Don't know of an engine failing after hearing this noise, and not sure what else there is in the front of the engine that would make that noise.
 
anyone grab a mechanic's stethoscope and check the alternator or power steering pump yet? I've had both of those make similar noises on previous vehicles, albeit the PS pump was more like a damn fire engine mechanical siren than a whine.

Did you read the part about it still making the exact same noise with the belt removed. That eliminates all accessories. from the equation.
 
anyone grab a mechanic's stethoscope and check the alternator or power steering pump yet? I've had both of those make similar noises on previous vehicles, albeit the PS pump was more like a damn fire engine mechanical siren than a whine.
Yup. Sounded like normal rotational noise to me, same as I always hear in a part that isn't bad.

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You could always trade it for a Rubicon.
Then you'll have something to whine about :baby:

I have one of those too, on 37's. It doesn't have any issues. In fact, its flawless and I have nothing to complain about on it. Not that the Toyota whine is an issue per se, just saying. Yeah I know, chrysler/fiat/daimler junk, but I would still rather drive the Jeep over the yota almost any chance I get -- just not on road trips where I do 600-1000 miles over 3 days.

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I have one of those too, on 37's. It doesn't have any issues. In fact, its flawless and I have nothing to complain about on it. Not that the Toyota whine is an issue per se, just saying. Yeah I know, chrysler/fiat/daimler junk, but I would still rather drive the Jeep over the yota almost any chance I get -- just not on road trips where I do 600-1000 miles over 3 days.

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My wife has a Jeep.
I'd never rather drive it over a Toyota.

It's her third, the first one had a trans that started hanging shifts WAY out.
Traded it.
The second was traded because she wanted a different color.
It now has 12K miles on it and is starting to shift goofy.

They don't appeal to me very much. I'd never buy one with the intent of keeping it for years.
 

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