Good Camry mechanic

[Bill_H2003]

Does anyone on this board know a good diagnostic mechanic (dealership or private garage) in the Barrie, Ontario to Toronto, Ontario, Canada corridor? I have a 99 Camry with a noisy engine particularly when cold and my two local dealerships cannot solve the problem. Infact, they will not even acknowledge that there is any problem.

Thank you.

[yotatechie04]

Well, I'm sure there are some people on here who know of someone around your area, but maybe we can help you figure out what your problem is. Could you possibly elaborate on the noise that your engine makes?

[Bill_H2003]

Originally Posted by yotatechie04

Well, I'm sure there are some people on here who know of someone around your area, but maybe we can help you figure out what your problem is. Could you possibly elaborate on the noise that your engine makes?

I hope there is someone who knows of a good Camry shop in this area. However, to your question. It's a 99 Camry, 2.2L 4cyl engine with 60,300km. The first noise in a very loud whine in the morning when engine is cold and less loud but also heard while accelerating. I feel that it's a belt whine from the timing belt area but Toyota apsolutely disagrees and says the whine is completely normal. They have inspected the timing belt and insist it's okay. Other Camry's don't make this whine, but to Toyota it's perfectly normal.

The second two noises that I believe are connected happen all the time and change in pitch with the speed of the car. The first is a tinkly rattle and the second is a very noticable hissing sound. I can hear them when driving down a quiet street with the windows down. Especially when passing parked cars or walls. When accelerating fast, the hissing grows to more of a tin girgling sound. I suspected the exhaust pipe is leaking and took the car in for servicing. However, Toyota says they cannot hear the rattle or the hiss and that after inspecting the exhaust find no leaks or loose parts. How they cannot hear it is beyond me. I cannot locate any holes or brakes in the exhaust myself, but I suspect that forward pipe with the weave texture on it. It's in the right area and there doesn't seem to be any clear way to check it for leaks or holes.

These constant noises are sure taking the pleasure out of a rather nice car. When I bought this car in October 2003, it was so lovely and quiet.

Thank you,
Bill

[yotatechie04]

Okay from what you've told me, it your squealing noise seems to be coming from your accessory belt. (alternator belt) Has it been replaced since you've had the car? It's not likely that the timing belt makes any noises like that, especially in a Camry, so I think Toyota's right on that one. An exhaust leak wouldn't cause a "hissing" while you're driving the car, that sounds more like a vacuum leak to me more than anything else. You should probably visually inspect all of the hoses that run along the firewall and on the intake for breaks or holes. If the exhaust was leaking it would make your engine sound significantly louder, almost as if there was no muffler or a hole rusted in your muffler. As for the rattling, it could be coming from anything. I recommend checking all of the heat shields that are attached to the exhaust system and verify that they are tight. Also, use a soft-faced hammer and tap them gently to see if they rattle, this will help in determining which one might be rattling. Either check all of these things yourself, or have them checked by a shop and let me know what you've found out. I remember when our '99 started making all kinds of noise, it was such an annoyance to drive it anywhere, but I love the car, and I fixed it all up sooner or later after figuring it out, and it sounds just as great as it did when we first got it. (Except now it has a loud exhaust system.)

[Bill_H2003]

Thanks for your help. I heard that if your cruise control is working fine then the vacuum system should be okay, since the CC works off vacumm. Is this not correct?

[Brian R.]

I think you're making a mistake about complaining to Toyota about 3 or 4 noises all at once, or over a short period of time. Dealers run into numerous people that are totally obsessed about noises and behaviors of their cars. As soon as you appear to be abnormally picky about any particular type of behavior, they immediately discount anything you say unless the damn thing is on fire or dripping oil or some totally obvious problem. It is my opinion that you would get much better feedback from a Dealer if you limit yourself to only one problem of a particular type - when a subjective assessment is needed.

BTW, I have heard other Camrys that whine like you describe. I have never been in one that didn't whine, but I have only been in 3 or 4 (doesn't mean much I guess).

[MMSF]

Originally Posted by Bill_H2003

I hope there is someone who knows of a good Camry shop in this area. However, to your question. It's a 99 Camry, 2.2L 4cyl engine with 60,300km. The first noise in a very loud whine in the morning when engine is cold and less loud but also heard while accelerating. I feel that it's a belt whine from the timing belt area but Toyota apsolutely disagrees and says the whine is completely normal. They have inspected the timing belt and insist it's okay. Other Camry's don't make this whine, but to Toyota it's perfectly normal.

The second two noises that I believe are connected happen all the time and change in pitch with the speed of the car. The first is a tinkly rattle and the second is a very noticable hissing sound. I can hear them when driving down a quiet street with the windows down. Especially when passing parked cars or walls. When accelerating fast, the hissing grows to more of a tin girgling sound. I suspected the exhaust pipe is leaking and took the car in for servicing. However, Toyota says they cannot hear the rattle or the hiss and that after inspecting the exhaust find no leaks or loose parts. How they cannot hear it is beyond me. I cannot locate any holes or brakes in the exhaust myself, but I suspect that forward pipe with the weave texture on it. It's in the right area and there doesn't seem to be any clear way to check it for leaks or holes.

These constant noises are sure taking the pleasure out of a rather nice car. When I bought this car in October 2003, it was so lovely and quiet.

Thank you,
Bill

Where to locate the heat shields?

[Bill_H2003]

Brian you may be absolutely correct. However, there was a 7 month gap between the first noise and the most recent two (rattle and hissing noise), so it would be a shame if they took that attitude. The fact that they tell me there is no hissing sound and no rattle when everyone else can clearly hear them suggests there is truth in what you say.

I suppose that gives me another reason to look for a good mechanic not connected with Toyota dealerships.

Thanks for your reply,
Bill

[yotatechie04]

Okay, the heat shields are the pieces of chrome-ish sheet metal that are bolted to the exhaust components to dissipate heat from the interior of the vehicle, and away from the hood and radiator in the engine bay. As I've said before you need to check all the mounting bolts in all of these before going and assuming about other problems. Also, change those damned belts! Both accessory and power steering, if they haven't been changed since you've owned the car, then they need to be changed. This is most likely the cause of your squeaking. The rattling is most definitely a heat shield loose somewhere, and the hissing noise is most likely a vacuum leak. As far as cruise control goes, there are no vacuum lines whatsoever that control the module, it is ran by the ECM and the throttle cables, there is NO vacuum control.

[nipsirc]

First thing to check is your brakes. I had exactly the same "tinkly rattle and hissing sound" problem that no one seems to hear but me.

Turns out my front disk pads and rotors are almost done and in dire need of changing.

Have it check first..... cost me $379 for both front disk pads and rotors + free wheel balancing... had it done by Seeders Auto

Mo more sound.... now it's the radiator leaks next....

Funny it seems that these bad things comes in threes.

[Toysrme]

Posted by yotatechie04 - 06-22-2004 at 02:34 PM

Posted by nipsirc - 11-17-2005 at 12:34 AM

Nip while you gave some good advice there, the last post in the thread was more than a year old bud.