Slight grinding noise coming from engine. Shop cant diag

So the past few weeks I have been hearing a slight grinding noise coming from my engine.(metal to metal) Its not a very loud one, and only appears at around 2K rpms or there about. (going up a hill will usually show itself as well regardless of engine speed). It only makes the noise when the truck is actually in drive, I tried to make it appear with the truck in park, and foot pressing the gas peddle at different RPMS, didn't make the noise.

So it seems to come and go, as well, its not very loud at the moment (but its beginning to get slightly louder as the past couple weeks have gone on). But its definitely the engine, not related to brakes or wheels, that I'm sure of.

I've already replaced put on a new water pump/timing belt kit about 14 months ago. I did use the duralast kit from autozone and not the fancy smanchy Aisin kit i keep hearing so much about. But I still am having a hard time believing that after only 14 months and 14K miles that it would already start failing. Maybe it could be possible? The noise is the same one as when my water pump failed.

I used a stethoscope to listen to different parts of the engine, and nothing seemed out of place to my untrained ears. Although the alternator almost blew my ear drums LOL. Gotta watch out for that next time.

I did already take the truck to a shop, and just my luck the noise didn't show up while the mechanic took it on a test drive. I even hopped in the truck with him to try and help point it out, but it just wouldn't appear. Luckily they didn't charge me anything, but still it would just be my luck that the noise wouldn't show up when a trained mechanic was looking at my truck. He told me it was probably just an AC line from a hot day. I didn't feel like debating him on it, (im never one to try and tell someone how to do their job) so I just took myself home, hoping that I could find some insight on this forum.

Its a 2002 sequoia RWD. ( I always post on the tundra forum, because as many of you know the sequoia forum is a complete ghost town, and the tundra and sequoia are practically the same)

If you guys need anymore info, please let me know. Thanks for any and all help, its much appreciated.

 

No one really needs to say I told you so about that shit Autozone kit, but……


It’s Aisin, or



When it comes to timing belt kits. And yes, 14k miles is plenty of time for a shit water pump to go to its home. Shit. Sucks to have to redo the job, I’m willing to bet the Autozone kit wasn’t much cheaper than the $200 or so for the Aisin kit.

 

I found out after the fact of it being installed. I had a friend from Reddit who is a mechanic do it for me for a great price, but I really wish he would have had the insight, him being a Toyota tech. He did a great job and all, but I really don’t think he gave it much thought like someone would about their own vehicle. It was just another job for him. Unfortunately he no longer works as a mechanic (took a office job) so I’ll have to find someone else.

I just recently started working on my own truck, and I really really don’t feel comfortable doing a timing belt.

what should I expect to pay someone to install this Aisin kit? And im seeing 2 different ones on Rockauto. Should I get the one with the hydraulic tensioner for the extra money? Or without.

and how certain can I be that this is the actual problem?

 

It really depends on your area and the labor rates of the shop that completes the work, but I believe that it's around $1,400.00/$1,500.00 for the timing belt job.

 

This is just a guess, but do you think that it could possibly be the wheel bearing(s)? If you only hear the noise when the vehicle is in motion and not when it's parked then it could possibly be the issue.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/1st-gen-wheel-bearing-replacement-issues.146094/

 

I also have a hard time believing that your water pump only makes noise in Drive, not in Park regardless of RPM

As far as not using anything but XYZ... there's a lot of very knowledgeable guys here. However, if you listen too closely you'll be convinced that your truck won't make it to the end of the street without exploding.

 

Can you post a video?

 

Auto-motive stethoscope

 

Sorry, I probably didn’t make it clear in my original post, that the stethoscope I used was indeed an automotive one.

Although, I put it on just about every non moving part that the serp belt was connected to, I didn’t hear anything out of the ordinary. (Well maybe the very top gear/pully that the serp belt is connected to might of sounded a little different than the rest but it didn’t sound like it was enough to actually warrant any concern in my book, I hope that makes since)

 

Probably have to have someone help with the diagnosis if it only makes the sound when it’s in gear or at 2k rpm. You can start by pulling the serpentine belt and creating the condition to see if the noise is still present

 

Speaking of the serp belt, every time I crank the car up in the morning (cold engine) it is pretty squeaky sounding. But once the truck reaches operating temp the squeaking stops. Could this have to do with anything or does that just mean I need a new serp belt. The fact of the matter is i just put a brand new serp belt on 14K miles ago (about 14 months ago) so i just cant believe it would go bad already

Second question, as far as taking the serp belt off. You mean like completely remove it and crank the engine up? I'm somewhat afraid to do that because i was under the impression that that would ruin the car without it on. Also im still a complete beginner and I'm not even sure if I could get it back on properly.

And to the guy that told me it could be a bad wheel bearing, I never hear the sound when my foot is off the gas peddle (I've even gone down a very steep long hill just to test this out)

I just really wish the guy at the shop I took it to would of taken the time to actually of tried to find the issue instead of treating me like I was just wasting his time. I guess i could try and take it to another shop, but right now my budget is extremely tight with school starting back and i cant work but even less than part time hours. That's kind of the reason I guess that im trying to diag myself to try and save that extra $100 cause the fact of the matter is, I honestly don't even have enough money to even cover the water pump/ timing belt repair if that's what it turns out to be... im so sorry for venting like this, im just very stressed and need help . Fingers crossed its actually something minor and not major

 

Can you guys tell me where I need to stick my automotive stethoscope? Maybe i wasnt looking in the right places?

 

How does your transmission fluid look? Put some on a white napkin/paper towel.

Plug in an OBD2 scanner and check for any pending codes (even if check engine isn't on and there isn't a regular code).

 

The serpentine belt only runs the accessories. It is different than the timing belt. Pulling the serpentine belt eliminates the alternator, Ps pump, AC etc from the equation. Helps narrow down the possibilities.

 

The way you describe it doesn't seem like a belt sound to me, but if you wish to eliminate the possibility use some belt conditioner spray. $10 bottle of CRC will be a 10x lifetime supply. I've had a small can for a decade or two. I used it twice.

 

I had this issue and it ended up being my tensioner pulley. I replaced it and my belt at the same time. IF it's tensioner pulley then it's something that can be done on your own. It is a bit of a pain in the ass but it's doable as a DIY deal.

 

What’s the best way to check tranny fluid? Engine on, at operating temp, in park right?

also my truck has a 2003 (my truck is an 02)tranny I had to put in that has 120K more miles than the engine when I put it in.

since I had to swap out the tranny, does that mean the guy that did it put brand new fluid in? I haven’t changed my tranny fluid at all because of the HORROR stories I hear about it hitting that point of “no return” where if it hasn’t been done in XYZ number of years/miles you just shouldn’t touch it.

and to everyone thats replying in my thread THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. This situation is stressing me out quite a great deal. Im still young and in college. Money is not only tight with me but my mom as well, and she’s already doing everything she can to sacrifice for me to have a somewhat stable college career. Every little dollar counts until I get my big girl job. It’s been so hard since dad passed away, so when unexpected expenses come up in the house it kind of rocks our world. ( and to the finance gurus, yes Ive already cut out the daily Starbucks a long time ago LOL for some reason they always bring that one up on YouTube videos about financial literacy)

sorry for the rant, but it really helps to relieve a bit of stress just to say these things out loud and talk to other people. Love you guys form the bottom of my heart. My dad was always the go to in the house when XYZ needs fixing. So to have others kind of sort of “help in that place” truely does warm my heart. Very kind group of people here.

 

They would have had to put new fluid in when they swapped it, so I think you should be fine there.

We are all here to help., from the experienced mechanic to the DIY novice. They have helped me more that I can say and we all just pay it forward where we can. Don't apologize for asking for help or asking questions. You should be proud of yourself for attempting to do all of this on your own. Chin up, you got this

 

If I’m understanding your original post, the noise is only in Drive and tied to engine speed?

Does to noise happen when stationary in Drive or only while the truck is moving?

IF (big IF) it is related to the transmission, if the noise changes with RPM it would (more likely) be on the input side of the power flow can you select gears manually like “S” mode?

edit to add: definitely need more information. Your description doesn’t sound like a transmission issue.
It sounds more like an accessory drive noise… basically anything on the serpentine belt or shitty timing belt idler/tensioner.

 

You live in Columbia SC right? What part of town. Someone on this forum may live near you and could take a listen.

 

I'd think this is the most likely culprit.

Same noise as previous failure from a poor quality part with >10k mi.


Get the more expensive kit with the tensioner.

Could be a poor quality aftermarket belt, could be a tensioner that is getting weak OR a combo of both.