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Connecting Rod Noise

I have a 1999 Camry LE with 89,000 miles. I have had oil changes every

3,000 miles and have done all scheduled maintenance work. I was just at the dealer to do the 90,000 mile service and have the timing belt replaced. While there, I asked them to check a noise I have been having. It started abruptly about 8 months ago and is a ticking/tapping noise which is loudest first thing in the morning or at a cold start, especially on a cold day. I don't hear the noise at highway speeds, but can hear it, although muffled, at lower speeds while accelerating. The mechanic kept the car overnight to hear the noise first thing in the morning and said that it sounded like a connecting rod noise caused by excessive clearance. No explanation for how this could have happened. The same mechanic said that it was a valve noise back in December, but this time he said he did a more thorough check. He said that I could have major problems down the road or the noise may just be bothersome. I don't know what to do -- should I just sell the car and cut my losses. Thanks.
Reply to
EMC
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Get a second opinion (from another mechanic).

Could be something else, like a loose connection on the knock sensor.

You'd be talking about rebuilding the whole bottom end of the engine to correct a connecting rod bearing noise, and it should be very unlikely. WIth 3,000 mile oil changes at 89,000 miles, you should be good for a lot longer unless there's a prior owner who neglected maintenance. Does your engine oil generally look fairly clean, or is it dark black?

Reply to
Daniel M. Dreifus

The oil never looks very dirty between oil changes, and the car doesn't seem to burn any oil. I am the original owner.

Thanks for your help.

Reply to
EMC

A noise when cold is usualy the valve train and can be of little worry , When hot is usualy when lower ends make more noise as oil thins.

Reply to
m Ransley

Conrod bearing noise is loudest when the engine is up to operating temp. It shows itself under load when the bearing is working hardest. This occurs during acceleration and the bearing can 'rattle' when in its free state which occurs at certain cruising speeds ( around 50-55mph) when the throttle is feathered (not power-on, or off, but in between)

The easiest way to check for bearing noise is to warm the engine to norm-op-temp, then run the revs to about 1300,..then quickly bring the engine to 2500 rpm and back. Do this a few times and you should hear the bearing if its loose.

Another way is to install an oil-pressure gauge. If there is a loud bearing, it should show as lower than normal oil-pressure at norm-op-temp. Once the engine is revved, the OP will climb quickly with it, then drop as revs drop again.

Tapping noises when very cold is usually not indicative of a bearing. In an engine like the Toyota twin OHC where there are no hydraulic lifters, a noisy piston sounds more like it.

Any mechanical noise which gets louder as engine load increases, should be checked out as breakage down the line can happen. Some engines such as the early Suzuki small 4WDs had noisy pistons when cold as normal,...the 2.2 L Camry donk is not one of them tho.

Seems like you are the victim of mis-adventure if it is a rod-bearing.

Jason

Reply to
Jason James

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