rmkblades

So the car has 203k miles amd miles and I've only put about 3k in the last three years. Have a full synthetic oil change yearly, 5w-30, Mobile 1 high mileage and just yesterday, Penzoil platinum high mileage 5w-30. Car runs great, no issues. However, I've noticed this rattling coming from the engine or possibly under the car. If the car is in park and the revs go up, it stops rattling. But if it's in reverse or drive and I'm stopped, the revs drop a tiny bit and the rattling starts. As soon as I lightly press the gas, it goes away. Any idea what could be causing this noise. I've attached a video so you can here the sound. Thank you!

https://imgur.com/a/IRkM9id

Rx330fnboi

Sounds like a heat shield rattle but it’s hard to hear it since the audio frequency of the video is picking up every other noise more than the rattle. Just go under the car when it’s off and take a rubber mallet. Bang on different parts of the exhaust till you an confirm it is or is not a heat shield rattling.

rmkblades

Thank you... I will check it out. If it is the heat shield, does that mean a bolt is loose, or is that a welded part?

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Heat shield is thin metal that is bolted to studs sticking out. Either a hole rattled thru over its 230k miles and no its not attached at that point (or points), or the nut rusted off and its rattling.

Have a smiliar noise, but not that loud... keep forgetting to inspect it - same as you, only in gear lol

rmkblades

So the mechanic found a broken exhaust bracket that was making a lot of noise due to the vibration in the vehicle which helped get rid of the annoying sound, but not the vibration. He changed the following parts -
1Timing Belt GENUINE 13568-09080 / 13568-YZZ10
1 Idler Roller Koyo OEM 13503-62030
1Tensioner Roller Koyo OE 13505-20030
1 Crank Seal GENUINE 90311-40022
2 Camshaft Seals GENUINE 90311-38034
1 Water Pump AISIN 16100-29085
1 Hydraulic Ten. NTN 13540-20030
1 Power Steering GENUINE 90080-91088-83
1 A/C / Alternator GENUINE 99366-21040-83

The car drives fine, but still has that annoying vibration. So I had all the motor and transmission mounts changed thinking that would solve the problem.. But no, the vibration remains.

I'm stuck. I'm considering changing the sparkplugs which haven't been changed in 100k miles and hoping that helps.. I have no idea what else it can be.

It is smooth in park and neutral, as well as when I'm driving. No vibration. But after the engine warms up, if I am in Drive or Reverse and not moving... It vibrates pretty good throughout the car and the steering wheel. If I increase the rpms by 100 or 200 to about 850-950 rpms when parked, the vibrations almost dissappear.

Any ideas on what could be causing this?

Thank you in advance!

cfh13427

Hi, I had a Rattle noise like this on my 2005 RX330.
I looked under the car and where the Heat Shield attaches at one of the attachment points and where it was bolted on, the Heat Shield had rusted thru at one of the nuts that secure it. I took off the nut that secures the Heat Shield and used a large fender washer over the rusted area of the heat shield. I put the nut back on and tightened it really well, securing the Heat Shield, No more Rattle!!
The rest of the Heat Shield looked Good, I checked everywhere the Heat Shield is secured, and No other Problems.
Hopefully this what your Rattle is!
Good Luck

uksparky

Did you ask the mechanic to look for your problem?

iMSQ

Wrong engine mode after warm-up. It could be wrong volume of air or fuel injected... or a bad temp sensor (and as a result wrong volume of air or fuel injected).

rmkblades

Yes, he told me my car has 200k and it will never feel like new... I told him this vibration just started about 2 months ago. He said we could change the sparkplugs and see if that helps, but said that the check engine light would be on if it was misfiring. I probably should change the sparkplugs, but what I really want is to stop the vibration.

rmkblades

I'm taking it to another mechanic today. What would they need to do to fix the the volume of air or fuel injected? Would changing the sparkplugs help?

uksparky

The spark plugs will make a difference for sure plus cleaning the throttle body and checking for any vacuum leaks... then give it a bottle dose of chevron with techron in the gas two per tank full.... that way you will eliminate the plugs and throttle body cleaning...

uksparky

Is your rattle noise gone now...That noise sounds like is coming from the transmission ...it sounds like the torque convertor bolts are loose

rmkblades

Ya, the rattle was a broken bracket that was hitting the exhaust.

​​I also have this weird sound, like crickets, and I think it might be from the power steering pump... Definitely sounds like something is rubbing against something... And if course the vibration.

rmkblades

Here is a video of the sound in my engine... All the belts are new, as well as the timing belt and all the stuff listed a few comments above... Could this be my power steering.. Tensioner, something else?
Video below...
Weird engine sound

Could it be related to the vibration I'm getting in the steering wheel?

Thanks!

MattRX

It sounds fine now, the ticking sounds like the injectors to me. Almost 100% identical to my 2002 Highlander with the 3.0 engine, although a little more clattery - but that might be a difference between the 3.0 and 3.3 (never owned a car with 3.3).

If there is a little whine that increases with RPM it could be the power steering pump, but I'd just leave it mine is not 100% silent either, it won't affect anything. My Highlander has 185k on it and it feels as good as new but it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get there. The vibration on my car was caused by some bad engine mounts but you've got some fresh ones. As others have said clean TB, clean MAF, run some Techron and it should smoothen itself out. My 2008 RX350 has finally stopped vibrating even after new plugs after a few runs of injector cleaner.