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What is this noise from left side of engine bay? Timing chain tensioner or belt tensioner pulley?

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by ljburns, Jan 4, 2021.

  1. Jan 4, 2021 at 8:31 AM
    #1
    ljburns

    ljburns [OP] New Member

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    Hi All. I just heard this marvelous sound last week. At first I thought it was the timing chain tensioner, but now I am second guessing that. Most posts I’ve read say that is from the right side. I read another thread saying this might be the bearings in the alternator.

    Took it to the dealer on Saturday for an oil change (every 5k miles) and was told it is normal. This is a 2014 Tundra 5.7 Limited



     
  2. Jan 4, 2021 at 8:33 PM
    #2
    Lowrange

    Lowrange I’m your Huckleberry

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  3. Jan 5, 2021 at 4:14 AM
    #3
    ljburns

    ljburns [OP] New Member

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    I read that thread. All those are on the right side. One person mentioned the alternator which is on the left. My sound is also on the left (passenger side).

    I do have an update: It only does it when the engine has sat overnight. It doesn't do it when the engine is warm.

    Is the timing chain tensioner something I should have fixed right away, or just drive on?
     
  4. Jan 5, 2021 at 5:26 AM
    #4
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    For my data base: Are you the original owner? Has the dealer always done oil changes at 5000 mile intervals? What mileage on the truck when this "marvelous sound began? Ask your dealer's service manager what brand/viscosity oil is being used for changes.

    Your conservative change interval, the fact that it didn't start for years, and the fact that it goes away after the engine warms up makes me wonder about the oil quality the dealer has been using. Don't assume the dealer is using Genuine Toyota Motor Oil simply because he's a Toyota dealer. Motor oil purchased in bulk is cheaper and more efficient to use. Toyota motor oil is not necessarily superior to any of the major brands (imo), but it is at least as good.
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2021
  5. Jan 5, 2021 at 6:00 AM
    #5
    ljburns

    ljburns [OP] New Member

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    I am the original owner. I have had the oil changed every 5000 miles (+/- 200 miles). The sound started when the weather got cold, so maybe around 107,000 miles. The oil used is 0w20 synthetic oil, Toyota part 00279-0w20-01.

    I'm going to drive the truck till the wheels fall off. I don't mind getting this fixed if needed. But I can't find any info saying this is detrimental to the engine life, so I don't know if I need to have this fixed now, or drive it till it as-is.
     
  6. Jan 5, 2021 at 6:17 AM
    #6
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    Is it on the left (driver's side) or the passenger side (right)? You said both above.
     
    joonbug likes this.
  7. Jan 5, 2021 at 6:22 AM
    #7
    ljburns

    ljburns [OP] New Member

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    Maybe I have my perspective messed up. It is on the passenger side. Right if sitting in the vehicle or left if looking at the engine.

    Edit: The noise is coming from the right side. My perspective was wrong. I think of it like looking at a carburetor, which is incorrect. Sorry for any confusion.
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2021
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  8. Jan 5, 2021 at 7:23 AM
    #8
    Cruzer

    Cruzer Wheeling Full Size

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  9. Jan 5, 2021 at 8:35 AM
    #9
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    I don't think you have anything to worry about if the noise is going away after the engine warms up. From owner reports, the UR timing chain design is prone to noise, especially on startup. Toyota dealer service has already told you it is normal. (Yeah, I know, not their truck.)

    Some owners have eliminated timing chain noise by switching to a slightly heavier 5W-20 or 5W-30 viscosity motor oil. Try that before you schedule any repair. By traditional motor oil viscosities, both of those are still low viscosity motor oil. There is no technical reason why those heavier viscosity motor oils can't be used in the 3UR-FE engine...Unless, you live in a cold climate where cold cranking with 5W motor oil could be an issue. Toyota owner manuals for some hot climates show those weights as recommended for the UR engines.

    The specified 0W-20 motor oil has minimum viscosity (thinnest) when the ambient (startup) temperature is lowest (0W). That may be why you're just hearing the noise now that temperatures have dropped. I changed my 4.6L to 5W-30 back in the summer, simply because the higher viscosity makes more sense for Texas' climate.
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2021
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  10. Jan 5, 2021 at 8:40 AM
    #10
    ljburns

    ljburns [OP] New Member

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    Thanks for the info. This is very reassuring. I'll use a slightly heavier weight oil next change. I appreciate the help.
     
  11. Jan 5, 2021 at 10:47 AM
    #11
    crewmaxlmt

    crewmaxlmt How dare you!

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    My 2014 could be noisy on a cold startup. The noise would go away after 10 seconds or so. I always used 0W-20 full synthetic at 5000 mile intervals.
     
  12. Jan 6, 2021 at 10:51 AM
    #12
    ljburns

    ljburns [OP] New Member

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    So I took the belt off and started the truck. It is 37F out, so it is cold. Same as yesterday and the past several days when I hear the sound during cold startup. The sound is gone with belt off. So I started to try and spin or wiggle on the pullies to see if any seemed off. I am not sure, but I don't think the tensioner pulley is supposed to spin and wiggle like this.

    https://youtu.be/pqLWnVHlD-U

    https://youtu.be/vtD4AjB4dEA

    https://youtu.be/pY6iil3wm7E

    Could the pulley be causing that terrible sound heard in the first video?
     
  13. Jan 6, 2021 at 10:58 AM
    #13
    crewmaxlmt

    crewmaxlmt How dare you!

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    Not sure how comfortable you are with it; but on my 6.0L F350 I popped out all of the old bearings on the idlers and installed new ones myself. The ball bearings are much cheaper than a new idler assembly. They are just standard bearings that you can buy from McMaster Carr. Steer clear of non name brand bearings and remember that you want sealed not shielded or open. The suffix code for double sealed is 2RS.
     
  14. Jan 6, 2021 at 11:03 AM
    #14
    ljburns

    ljburns [OP] New Member

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    Am I correct in thinking it should spin freely in wiggle like that?
     
  15. Jan 6, 2021 at 11:07 AM
    #15
    crewmaxlmt

    crewmaxlmt How dare you!

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    There is going to be some play since the fit between the shoulder bolt and bearing is not high precision; but that appears excessive. It probably won't fail since the load is entirely radial but the noise of a rattling idler pulley is annoying. That is why I changed all of the bearings out on my F350.
     
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  16. Jan 7, 2021 at 3:58 AM
    #16
    ljburns

    ljburns [OP] New Member

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    I have an update for anyone else having this issue. Started the truck after sitting overnight. Current temp is 33F. My noise has changed after taking off the belt and messing with the pulley on the belt tensioner. The sound now sounds like bearings spinning and is high pitched. Only lasts about 10-15 seconds and then stops. I think I found my problem. I either do what crewmaxlmt suggested, replace the bearings in the pulley, or just replace the entire tensioner assembly and belt. The current belt as some but not much cracking.
     
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  17. Jan 7, 2021 at 5:02 AM
    #17
    Vr0ck

    Vr0ck New Member

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    I would replace all - belt, tensioner and pulley.

    Advance Auto sells the entire kit (Dayco OEM kit) with all components needed.

    Recently replaced mine on my 2016.
     
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  18. Jan 7, 2021 at 5:33 AM
    #18
    ljburns

    ljburns [OP] New Member

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    I saw that kit. How has it been holding up? I am afraid that it will wear out after a year.
     
  19. Jan 7, 2021 at 5:49 AM
    #19
    Crunch527

    Crunch527 Brute Force and Ignorance

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    I’d source the parts from Toyota. Anymore, Napa, autozone etc have shit for parts. My belt started squealing and chirping a while back...tensioner was the issue and it looked fine. The spring became weak. I had Toyota swap out the tensioner and its been fine.

    Hard to tell from the video but precision machined or not, those pulleys shouldn’t rock back and forth...they should be solid.
     
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  20. Jan 7, 2021 at 5:54 AM
    #20
    Hightide

    Hightide SSEM #88 - 3MW - ASCM #2 RGBA#Q

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    Tensioner and pulley are good.
    About to change a Dayco belt with only 25000 to 30000 miles on it.


    Going with the Continental elite(Goodyear gatorback) belt this time.
     
  21. Jan 7, 2021 at 6:01 AM
    #21
    glowblue

    glowblue From time to time

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  22. Jan 7, 2021 at 12:17 PM
    #22
    Vr0ck

    Vr0ck New Member

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    Good so far, no issues. Took care of the noise at cold start up.
     
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  23. Feb 21, 2021 at 7:13 AM
    #23
    Rocko9999

    Rocko9999 New Member

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    Any updates?
     
  24. Feb 21, 2021 at 9:58 AM
    #24
    jeremyd

    jeremyd 2014 Crewmax SR5

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    Interesting thread


    At 45K I was hearing a squeeking noise, so I installed a Oem belt tensioner only.


    At 60K the squeeking returned, This time I replaced the belt tensioner with a aftermarket brand and also replaced the belt with a aftermarket Mitsibishi belt.


    Currently at 64K, so far so good.

    The second time I replaced the oem belt tensioner looked to me like a faulty bearing..The third time received a different belt and belt tensioner.
    IMG_7339 (1)ff.jpg IMG_7264h.jpg
     
  25. Feb 22, 2021 at 10:34 AM
    #25
    Rocko9999

    Rocko9999 New Member

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    How did you narrow down the OEM tensioner to this noise?
     
  26. Feb 22, 2021 at 11:03 AM
    #26
    ljburns

    ljburns [OP] New Member

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    I took the belt off, started the truck, and the noise was gone. So I knew it was the belt tensioner or idle pully. So I replaced both, and the belt.
     
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  27. Feb 22, 2021 at 11:59 AM
    #27
    jeremyd

    jeremyd 2014 Crewmax SR5

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    Info from this forum over the last couple of years.
     
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  28. Feb 23, 2021 at 5:28 AM
    #28
    Sundog

    Sundog Zoom Zoom

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    Tracking post
     
  29. Mar 19, 2021 at 6:14 PM
    #29
    TXTundraFan

    TXTundraFan New Member

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    My 2010 has a similar noise and I can't figure out where it's coming from. It sounds like it's coming from the passenger side of the the front of the engine. It used to only do it when it got wet or was wet and was really loud, but would go away after about 10-15 seconds. Now it does it all the time but it's no where near as loud, but I can hear it inside the cab.

    I have tried spraying 303 Aerospace UV protectant spray on the belt and it makes the noise go away for a few minutes.
     
  30. Mar 19, 2021 at 7:12 PM
    #30
    jeremyd

    jeremyd 2014 Crewmax SR5

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    Replace you belt and belt tensioner and I'm pretty sure your problem will be resolved. If you can change your own oil you can do this as well. It took me approx 45 mins.
     

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