96 camry balancer i think

My sister has a 96 camry engine sounds great at idle but upon start up and at about 1500 rpms engine starts knocking. I've never heard this before, knock all the time but not just when reving. Anyone have some knowledge on this problem?

Sounds like you have a Harmonic Balancer/Crank Pulley bolt loose.... This happened on my 87 Camry... Get a 1/2 drive socket that fits the bolt, get a 21 inch breaker bar with a 1/2' drive, whack it with a ballpin hammer clockwise a couple of times... this will retighten the bolt... Easy way of checking it out... Bob

After further inspection harmonic balancer was tight. It's about to throw a rod on the 2 or 3 cyl. Thanks bmaintz I was hopeful but not so lucky.

Unusual for a Camry to throw a rod, curious what caused this... Keep us posted... Bob

About 6 mo. ago I did a minor teardown on her engine it looked like she used coal instead of oil. It was caked up about 3/4 of an in. thick. The valve cover had no way to breathe, the pickup strainer had 3 open holes on the screen. So I soaked the engine with diesel fuel for 2 days it came out like dark engine stop leak about that thick. Cleaned it up a little and away she went now this, now it's up to her what to do patch or rebuild I want to rebuild everything. If not a rebuild at least a good cleaning.

I use Amsoil (XL-7500) which has a good detergent & TBN factor.... Keeps her clean as a whistle... Someone must have used a lousy oil or never changed it... I know that the newer Camrys had a problem with sludge buildup but I don't think they did on the 2.2 engine...

thanks after everythings up and running I give it a try