Hey all. New the the website so thought I'd say hello!

I'm the owner of a 97 4 runner with the 3.4l engine. I bought it used from a private owner about a year ago and the engine has about 270k miles! Pretty impressive I think.

So anyway a couple days ago I noticed a very loud noise from my engine bay and I'm not really sure what it is. It sounds like a chaffing/rubbing sound of metal. It does not sound good at all. I have a youtube video for a more accurate description and sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAgVpiTIvd8

Yeah...it doesn't sound good...hopefully its not another timing chain problem. I'm currently working on my 2.7l stratus...

Thanks all.

 

doesn't the 3.4 have a timing belt, if i'm not mistaken, so that rules out timing chain.

 

The first thing to check is any of your pulleys for alternator, power steering pump etc. Remove all drive belts then start the engine. I am guessing you have a bad bearing in one of the accesories, or an idler pulley. If the sound is still there, then yes..........it has to be on the back end of the engine. Flex plate etc. Perhaps something in the transmission.

If not then something internally with the engine is bad. ALthough the sound seems to high pitched for that.

Good luck and let us know what you find.

 

You might be right, I really don't no anything about the car. It's my step daughters first car.

 

Not sure exactly what that sound is, but this is what I would be doing. Eliminate one thing at a time.

 

Timing Belt Idlers?

 

Sounds to me like its coming from the engine bay, not the transmission.

It happens at cold startup, or anytime? Sounds like a accessory to me as well. Its hard to say. If you've got a nice mechanic, they should just listen to it for you for free and help you out.

 

That could be it as well. Of course if you are replacing those or even checking them.......you might as well replace the timing belt and water pump..............especially if you don't know anything about the vehicle history.

 

timing belt idler(s). Do you have records about the last timing belt change?

Use a piece of fuel or ATF hose or stethescope and have someone else turn over the car and see if you can isolate the sound.

 

I would get a mechanics stethoscope and see if I could narrow it down. If it does end up needing a timing belt this guys sells them on ebay and here is his site. I have not bought form him myself but I know that a few others have and have been satisfied.

http://volkstoymotorsports.com/
just click on the toyota timing belt kits.

 

Ditto on the mechanics stethescope. You can pick one up at Harbor Freight for a few bucks.

It sounded like the starter didn't completely return after deploying to the flywhell/flexplate. This would be the same sound you hear when you hold the key cranking after the engine has started.

I would start it up and wait for the sound then tap the starter with a hammer from the passenger side wheel well. If it goes away immediately then bingo.

This would also make sense since it sounded like you can sometimes just shut it off and start it back up and it has gone away.

 

yea i agree sounds like that starter is not dis engaging

 

It doesn't sound like anything internal, sounds like something external.

Like others suggested check all the accessories and idlers for them first, that is not that hard.

The starter is also a real good idea, that would make sense for why it is there and then not there at all, usually things like this will taper off not just be there or not.

Get a stethescope and listen to it and anywhere else it might be coming from.

 

Thanks all for the replies!!! You folks are very helpfull!

I really do not know if the timing belt or water pump was replaced lately. I'm going to assume it hasen't been changed.

For the most part I really don't have any records of service, I have had the car for about a year and pretty much of kept on my fluid changes. But I haven't done anything else...except the starter...hmm..

I'm pretty much the family mechanic! I keep all 3 of my vehicles runnin' well atleast I try to...

The starter idea made alot of sence, I replaced the starter with a very low budget one in August. Checking everything sounds like a great idea though. I will let you folks know what I find!

Thanks again!

P.S The sound happens at random times. For some reason more so at cold start...

 

And when it happens it always happens from the moment it is started and it always full force? and the rest of the time it is buissness as normal?

Starter is first thing on my list if thats the case.

Also, i would plan on changing the timing belt and all that jazz pretty soon if you don't know when the last time was, supposed to happen every 90k miles.

 

Heya folks, turned out to be the starter after all!

Have to tap it just right but when you do it finally disengauges. Thats what I get for buying a low bugdet reman.

About changing the water pump and belt, is it pretty challenging on this model?

Thanks all!

 

Be sure to replace the starter, it will die if this keeps up.

The timing belt is not that hard, just takes time and got to be carful to get everything lined up just right.

Hardest part is getting the crack pulley off.

 

Cool, thanks for posting up the results, so few actually do.

Timing setup/waterpump aren't that difficult as Texas_Ace said, the hardest part is that pulley.

Here is a decent write-up that I looked at while doing mine, although I did also reference the FSM as well.

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/timing_belt/

 

Yes, I ordered a new starter with a lifetime warranty and it should be here very soon.Which is good because the problem is getting worse! Changing the starter takes a bit of time and patience but its not too challenging.

Ok, cool. Yeah I figured its time to purchase a FSM for this vehicle as well

Sounds easy enough thou. I'd rather work on a rwd v6 then my fwd v6 anyday of the week! lol! That stratus is a PAIN!

 

Swapped out that old pos starter today. Check out those teeth!

Don't buy cheap! I checked the flywheel, its ok!

Enjoy!