I probably should have asked this a while back, since I've heard it for a while.

I finally reached the breaking point. The car sounds fairly loud on a cold start up. Granted the engine revs higher when cold, but even when warmed up I still hear this sound. It sounds like it's from behind the engine.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYA1NE_uArs

Appreciate any advice or telling me I'm crazy...

EDIT: Should have mentioned I have a GS430

 

My car has just starting doing that for the 1st time also. Something associated with the ac system/ accessory drive is causing it on mines. When I turn the ac off, it goes away.

 

initially thought it was the AC as well, but turning turning the AC off doesn't make any difference.

 

I'm just now getting a chirp-squeal on cold start up, likely from an idler pulley. Could be similar?

 

usually a bad drive belt, the chirps come from the front of the engine. what I'm hearing is on the back.

 

My car sounded somewhat like this. Turns out I needed an Idler pulley, a tensioner pulley and a serpentine belt, i got the parts fairly cheap because I work for a dealership, but without the discount it would have been around 170 for parts, after I replaced what needed to be fixed, the sound has been eliminated.

 

Thanks for the advice. Could you provide part numbers for the pulleys? I'm looking on sewell's site and see a few different pulleys...

Thanks in advance.

Dane

 

An update FWIW. Took my car in last week and not surprisingly the "expert mechanic" said my engine sounded normal. I told him that's impossible, because when I first bought the car it sounded quieter. Couldn't even tell if it was on. I also tried to recall when I first started hearing it and best I can remember it was when they did the drive belt, water pump and timing belt. Didn't think much of it at the time, figured belts needed to be broken in. If I had only known then what I know now....

What they did find was a leaky exhaust pipe, which was replaced. Thankfully all of this was covered under the extended warranty. Engine still sounds noisy.

Here is a video of what the engine sounds like.
I have tensioner and idler pulleys (per AM21GS400) coming in, but would appreciate any other thoughts.

 

Yea something ain't right, it shouldn't sound like that, get back to me with those questions I sent you..

 

I think you need valve adjustment. But to confirm that, buy a cheap vacuum gauge, hook it up to intake manifold vacuum and the vacuum reading should be steady 18-21" of Hg. If it's not steady, but bouncing back and forth, you need valve adjustment.

 

my car makes the exact noises your car does but my engine is quiet. all my noises are coming from underneath the car, sounds like all drive-train related for me,

 

Today I hooked up a vacuum gauge and all seems fine. At least I hope I did it right. Here is the clip....

 

According to the vacuum gauge, you are getting 21" Hg, with a steady needle. That confirms that you dont have a mechanical problem. The noise is something else.

 

If you would like to know more on vacuum testing. Google vacuum gauge readings.

BTW, at 2000 rpm, what is your vacuum reading?

 

At 2000 RPM it was 22 Hg. I also tried some other tests with the vacuum gauge but they came back normal.

Baffled as to what it could be. Heck I'm starting to think I just have a loud engine.