01 Celica - water pump or timng tensioner or ???

[dsap2001]

I'm the proud original owner of a 2001 Celica GT 5-spd with just under 270000 miles.

Yes, that's 2-7-0-0-0-0 miles and it has been purring like a kitten until...

last week on a cold morning, 40 degrees (ok, cold for Florida). I started my little burro and let it idle in the driveway to allow the engine to warm up before the hour commute to work.

After about a minute, all of a sudden I hear this noise that sounds like a hard rapping with a kinda whirring noise. It was still idling high as normal when warming up. I tapped the gas and the idle dropped and the noise was still present but had slowed matching the idle.

I checked the oil, radiator level, etc and all were fine. Nothing dripping anywhere. No smoke. Oil filler cap looked fine. Engine temp fine... and there is no loss of power.

It's not the cheap gas/detonation/marbles in engine sound.

It's more like a hammering sound that increases with RPMs and I would swear it almost sounds like accompanied by a whirring sound. I can only hear it at low speeds and idling, but sometimes I don't hear it all (at low speeds).

Anyone ever experience this? I'm letting it sit while I research the problem.
Thanks, for taking the time to read this!

[GSBoek]

Welcome to the boards.

The noise could be a lot of things really, the best thing to do is to try to diagnose if the noise is internal or comming from any of the accesories. Anyway you could make a video, that could help a little, unless of course you don't want to risk causing further damage to the engine.

[dsap2001]

With the hood open and hand tweaking the throttle it definitely sounds like the noise is eminating from inside the engine... I want to say the front (where all the belts/pulleys are) maybe upper part, but it's hard to tell.

I will try to take a video with my camera and post.

Also, I will check the local parts store for an auto stethoscope.

Thanks.

[GSBoek]

Did you try to put your finger on the timing chain tensioner and check if you can feel anything through it? With the engine running it's a bit tough to do as the valve cover might burn your arm when you reach behind it.

[dsap2001]

I tried putting my finger on the tensioner, but I didn't feel anything unusual.

Okay, I finally got some videos and uploaded to YouTube...

The first video is the normal warm up idle with normal slightly noisy valves consistent with an engine with 250000+ miles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wWCZjHeb3c


The second video is a couple minutes after warm up. Note the sound that starts 3-4 seconds in and then increases with throttle at 23 seconds on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEVhdXY5TcM

Let me know what you think or if you have trouble viewing.
Thanks!

[GSBoek]

Dang! Whatever that is, it's not something to hold out on. I wanna say it could be a loose bolt on one of the accessories but it also sounds like metal on metal rubbing inside the engine. It doesn't really sound like rod knock, as it seems to be slightly inconsistent but who knows. Could also be the timing gear coming apart, hopefully not.

That's what I can offer so far.

[Smaay]

i cant hear it at work, whats your oil look like? is it low?

[forknospoon]

Hey i have the same problem w/ my 1990' Celica GT-S. Did you happen to find out what was the reason for this sound to occur? I flushed my engine with seafoam, but only through the vacuum line, and still makes the noise. I was thinking it could be my oil cause it looks hella dirty, but if you happen to know or find out i'd love to know.

[GSBoek]

OP hasn't been on two months. I doubt this has any updates.