Rattling Noise In Engine

August 23, 2003

We have a 2000 Toyota Avalon XL with 25,000 miles on the Odometer. About 6 months ago, we noticed a strange rattling noise coming from the engine whenever we drove the car and reaccelerated. When my mother drives it down the street towards our house, we can hear her coming. In June our Toyota dealer dismissed it as "Pre-Ignition Ping" and said that we should try to change our brand of gas.

A month later, after we tried different gas, the noise had not ceased. Since that time, we've been monitoring this noise. The Rattling sound can be heard at 2.5 RPM's and will continue until the RPM's are increased. The engine also sounds louder and rougher at idle than it used to be.

We've taken the car back to the dealer numerous times. We've even had the tech drive it to his home while the car was in for service. He still couldn't figure out what the sound was. Since then, the techs at the dealer can identify that ithere is a potential problem, but no one knows how to fix it. We would really like to get this matter taken care of before something major happens to the engine.

If anyone has any information reguarding this, please, send it my way :D. It'll be such a huge help. We are all so fed up with the noise, that a speedy service will be the answer to our prayers! Thank You.

November 25, 2003

I get the same problem in my 1996 Avalon XLS. It does not occur until I have been driving the car for awhile, and even when it is happening, it does not occur if I accelerate either very little or very much. It only happens when the engine has been running for awhile and I accelerate moderately. The noise did not start for me until about 70,000 miles. It now has 120,000, so it does not seem to be hurting the car any.

I too thought it might be cheap gas, but it occurs no matter what octane I put in.

I also have a slow oil leak, and wonder if anyone else has these problems and what they did to fix it.

Otherwise, this car is the best I've ever owned.