97 Avalon XLS

Hi Guys,

I just bought this Avalon about a month ago. it ran and drive fine, except one thing that bother me a lot when I put D=drive and step on brake at stop sign and light, it make very harm noise from engine. I don't know what it is and where it came from? It had 166K miles. Thanks.

Can you describe the noise? Grinding? Tapping? Screeching? Whooshing? Bubbling? Groaning? There's a hundred noises under the hood...help us narrow it down. Also, the noise only happens when you are stopped and the car's gear selector is in "D"? Any sluggishness when you accelerate away from a stop? Harsh upshifts? Longer than expected upshifts? Does it get worse when you turn the steering wheel when stopped?

Keep describing and we'll try to help...hard when we're not standing there next to you.

Can you describe the noise? Grinding? Tapping? Screeching? Whooshing? Bubbling? Groaning? There's a hundred noises under the hood...help us narrow it down. Also, the noise only happens when you are stopped and the car's gear selector is in "D"? Any sluggishness when you accelerate away from a stop? Harsh upshifts? Longer than expected upshifts? Does it get worse when you turn the steering wheel when stopped?

Keep describing and we'll try to help...hard when we're not standing there next to you.

Thanks for replied me, one thing I can tell about this noise is more like groaning only when the car in "D" and step on the brake when I put it in "N" the noise is gone the same as when I let my brake goes and step on the gas padel to accelerate. I don't know where it comes from, I replaced serpentine belt but didn't help. Please help me on this one. Thanks.

Does the groaning get worse when you turn the steering wheel or is it hard to turn? If so, you could be low on power steering fluid. And if it has been like this for a long time, you may have a worn out power steering pump.

On the side, does the car's engine temperature gauge creep up or not where it should be? I ask because the cooling fans are actually run by the same pump and fluid as the power steering system.

Hope this helps!

well, I checked my power steering fluid and it is OK, it's only make noise when step on brake at a complete stop, not when car moving or turning i couldn't tell about noise, the engine temperature gauge is normal too. I wish you are here to hear this noise but ?, could it be timing belt or any kind of pulley cause this kind of noise. I will try to pin point where the noise come from this weekend but please help me more to what a potential that could cause this noise. Thanks.

Sounds like it could be transmission related. When was the fluid in it changed last? When warm, is the fluid at the proper level and what color is it? Does it look brown or opaque? Does it smell burned? If so, it needs to be changed. If you take it to a repair shop or a fast oil change place, DO NOT OPT FOR THE FLUSH. They may push you saying that since you don't know when it was done you should do it, BUT DON'T. Do a regular fluid and filter change.

[Side note] - You want to get the old fluid out and a flush is supposed to do that, but what it also does is break loose the years of varnish and build-up inside the valve passages from the years of neglect...in your case it is presumed by the previous owner. These floating particles get lodged in the valves and critical passages and cause failure. The better option is to do a regular fluid and filter change, then do it again about 500-1,000 miles later. This will remove most of the old fluid and allow the sludge and varnish to slowly redissolve.

Is the "Check Engine" light lit up? Has the "O/D Off" been blinking recently? These would indicate trouble codes that have been stored in the car's ECM computer. Even if they are not lit now, the codes are still stored. Find a nearby parts store that will read your codes for free with their scan tool and post back what you find.

Hi Guys,

I'm thinking about working my power steering pump but not sure how hard could it be to replace it. Is any one have replaced power steering pump before or have a step by step procedure or some pictures that I go by would be nice, also is 97 Avalon code reader is OBII or OBI. Thanks.

Sorry for the late reply. The power steering pump should be moderately easy to replace, typically mounted on the passenger side of the engine best accessed through the wheel well and underneath.

A second thought may be a contaminated brake pad...does the groaning occur as you are stopping or even after you have stopped? Does the groaning noise rise in pitch as you rev the engine? Does it lower in pitch when you turn the steering wheel? Is steering more difficult?

I ask because groaning can happen if the car is creeping forward and the brakes a lightly applied or when one or more pads are contaminated by a caliper cylinder leaking brake fluid...is your brake fluid low?

Of course, if you've already resolved the problem then congrats...just post back what the problem turned out to be if you can. Good luck!

I have a 97 avalon with the same problem, it happens when you are in drive or park and not moving, but if you shift into netrual it goes away... The noise I would describe it as is a ever so slight repetitive bumping noise,you could not hear it with the radio up but with it quiet you can. I suspect it has something to to with the tranny, maybe the torque converter or the fluid needs changed this only happens when stopped, their is no shifting problems or take off from a dead stop problem of any please help if you can :banghead:

Could be a worn out engine or transmission mount.