99 4cyl 2.2L Loud whining noise when cold

Bill_H2003 · #1 12-01-2003, 11:34 PM

Hello,

Just bought my first 1999 Camry. Nice car. However, as soon as weather turned cold, I have a rather load whining noise from the engine belt side for the first 5-15 minutes when the engine is cold in the morning. Toyota changed a slightly worn belt tensioner pulley and idler pulley. Found nothing else wrong with the car.

The noise is no better since the pulleys were replaced. In addition, I now also hear a hissing or light whining sound when stepping on the gas in neutral when the engine is warm. Toyota says that both these noises are completely normal for the 99 Camry. They insist everything is fine.

In the members' opinion does this sound normal for a 99 Camry engine?

Question 2 - Do snow tires cause my Camry to loose some gas mileage. Since I put them on I believe my gas comsumption has increased. I'm asking in case this might tie into the above situation. I have not mentioned the gas increase to Toyota yet.

Thank you,
Bill

csaxon · #2 12-03-2003, 11:01 AM

#2 Yes snow tires can effect gas mileage.
My son has a '99 camry..no noise. Could be misaligned pulley and belt. Could be a vacuum leak. Look for cracks in vacuum hoses etc

Bill_H2003 · #3 12-05-2003, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csaxon

#2 Yes snow tires can effect gas mileage.
My son has a '99 camry..no noise. Could be misaligned pulley and belt. Could be a vacuum leak. Look for cracks in vacuum hoses etc

Thanks for your help. Problem is now corrected by Toyota. Turns out the water pump was the source of the noise. The engine now sounds more normal when started cold and after it warms up.

Take care,
Bill

frankjc · #4 12-08-2003, 01:22 PM

those cars eat water pumps

Bill_H2003 · #5 12-11-2003, 08:46 PM

Update: Toyota has missed it again. The replaced water pump failed to solve the loud whining noise when the engine is cold. This is really getting frustrating. I don't understand why it is so hard for class A machanics to locate the source of such a loud noise.

If the problem was a vacuum hose as suggested by one of the members, would I not see a check engine light come on? Could the problem be comming from a hole in the exhaust pipe at the front of the engine underneath that silver protective hood? If so, would the noise stop when the engine warmed up as it now does?

Any further suggestions would be appreciated. Toyota is not very helpful with this particular problem.

Thank you,
Bill

frankjc · #6 12-12-2003, 02:49 PM

power steering pump? V6'S go thru p/s pumps. is yours a 6 or 4?
if it's a front pipe, you are looking at between $1000 and $1300, depending on the engine, for the pipe alone.

Bill_H2003 · #7 12-12-2003, 07:28 PM

It's a four cylinder 2.2L. Would a worn power steering pump produce a loud whining noise when cold? Also, would I not notice the car hard to turn as well?

Where in the collection of pumps and pulleys is the power steering pump located? I believe the water pump is directly below the alternator and I think the air conditioning compressor is the next down from there.

I am amazed that the exhaust pipe at the front of the engine under that protective hood would cost $1000.00 - $1300 min.

Thank you,
Bill

frankjc · #8 12-12-2003, 10:20 PM

i'm such a dope, you said it was a 2.2 4cyl in the title of this thread, doh!
yes, it is possible that a worn p/s pump could whine, and you could find it hard to steer. is it? are there any leaks?

your water pump is driven by the timing belt.
your alternator and a/c compressor are driven by the same belt.
and the p/s belt is driven by the smallest, thinnest belt.

it's hard to say, without actually hearing the car...my first guess would have been the water pump.

masic_2000 · #9 12-16-2003, 09:17 PM

I also have a slight whining sound when the car is cold (2000' 4 cyl.). Seems to disappear after 10 min. Not sure what it could be, but reading these threads has got me wondering. stay tuned.

Bill_H2003 · #10 12-18-2003, 11:54 PM

That is the same noise that Toyota and I have been chasing after for weeks. First 10 minutes when cold. Six service calls, 1 new water pump, 1 new timing belt tensioner pulley and 1 new idler pulley without success locating the source. I was back into the dealership today and scheduled another service call for next week. This time, I am going to drop the car off the night before and then go back in the morning, so I will be there when they start it up cold. Hopefully, with me right there, they will have greater success locating the exact cause.

corvair · #11 12-20-2003, 06:05 AM

if they are using the same timing belt this can be your noise. when ever i do any repair dealing with the timing belt i ALWAYS tell the customer that there WILL be a noise if the old belt is used. for some reason they dont like being reused. no prob. with using them just noisy. AND you might need the power steering fluid changed. Lexus has a power steering fluid conditioner that works every time. and all you v-6 owners if you have had your power steering pump resealed and it makes noise the tech didn't put the vains in the same way they came out.

Bill_H2003 · #12 12-21-2003, 11:39 PM

I have told Toyota that I'm bringing the car back in soon for them to once again track down the source of the noise when the engine is cold. I will be sure to mention the timing belt being re-used and also the power steering fluid change.

Would there be any harm putting the Lexus conditioner into the Camry steering fluid as a first try? Some of these dealerships get rather touchy with warranties when you use add-ins. I also wonder if Toyota has a conditioner as well.

Thanks for the helpful information.

Bill

Bill_H2003 · #13 12-23-2003, 10:56 AM

I just called my local Lexus dealer and they know nothing about any Power Steering Conditioner.

Any further information you can give me concerning this product?

masic_2000 · #14 12-23-2003, 11:35 PM

I think you can get this product fom any auto parts center. I know it is available for Honda -> "Bardahl Power Steering fluid and Conditioner".

smarisetty · #15 01-07-2004, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill_H2003

I just called my local Lexus dealer and they know nothing about any Power Steering Conditioner.

Any further information you can give me concerning this product?

HI Bill,

Any luck with your problem. I seem to be having exactly the same problem (noise when cold) and appears to be somewhere near the timing belt/water pump etc.

Typically, mechanics go with trial and error and find the problem before they replace the entire car. May be this might help (TSB).

EG001-99 JAN 99 Engine - Revised Timing Belt & Tension Spring

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