Narrowroad

My neighborhood's mostly seniors and families with young children. Great folks, very friendly.

I've gotten an anonymous complaint from one of my neighbors that my 4runner is "very loud." Now, i've never really noticed, but would like to try to figure it out.

My '97 has 215k miles and still running strong. Now that I'm listening, here's what I've noticed:

a) the rig does sound kind of loud especially when idling cold and running through 1st and 2nd.
b) Kind of like a roar from the engine, but maybe from the pipe?

You guys/ gals have any insight? Maybe just needs a new muffler (never been replaced), or maybe an insulating layer under the hood?

Thanks for any tips! Don't want to get run out of my 'hood on a rail.

TexanTaco

Could it be the radiator fan that sounds loud? I know with my truck you can easily hear the fan through the first couple gears. That would be my guess if it sounds like it's coming from the engine bay. Now you also might want to check your exhaust system for any bad gaskets or holes. The gaskets can rust and crumble apart over time creating a gap in the exhaust flow.

On a side note, shouldn't people (even old people) in Colorado of all places know what a 4x4 Toyota sounds like??

Ron Helmuth

I am wondering if they are referring to the noise at startup?

I start mine in my detached garage-with garage door open of course- and if my neighbors are asleep with their windows open they feel it is loud also. It dies down to a quiet idle within a couple of minutes but it is indeed pretty loud at start.

I am wondering if perhaps you let yours reach slow idle before you drive away, and that is the noise they are objecting to....

ozziesironmanoffroad

sure your cat is still there?

Narrowroad

There were two cats sleeping under the hood. They do get pretty loud when you start it up.

j-man

if it was an anonymous complaint - i wouldnt worry about it - if they're too chicken to confront u about it in person, means they are just bored stupid @ss neighbors that are soo unhappy with their own lives that they have to barge in on others.

- sorry i had to vent - im currently in a battle with one of my neighbors over the same thing, except my neighbor's prob is that she doesnt like seeing my garage door open (middle of day mind u) and seeing all my tools, etc...

seaofnames

Go to the police station, and have them do a sound check kind of thing, then have it posted everywhere in your area.

They can only do anything if the noise is over 75dB or so from 25 feet away. Something like that. I'm sure the bylaws in your area are different than mine!

Narrowroad

Thanks for the ideas!

Anyone have experience with a hood liner like Dynamat? Worth the $$ to bring down engine noise?

Any drawbacks like heat building up under the hood?

dirtoyboy

your truck should be very quiet......unless you have altered something...

I cant even hear mine running at idle.

Have you gotten under the truck to see where the noise is actually coming from? Sounds dumb..I know...

Maybe it could be an exhaust leak?