Warm Engine Noise (but Not When Cold)

March 9, 2008

I have a 2001 Toyota Corolla, 1.8L 4 cyl engine, with 54K miles on it. When I first start the engine in the morning it purrs like a kitten. As it warms up I begin to hear what appears to be a "tapping" sound coming from the left hand side of the engine. I have taken the car to 2 separate Toyota dealerships and received 2 different "diagnoses". Both indicated the problem lies in the piston/rod/bearing arena and indicate that I need a new engine (at a cost of $4,000.00+ US dollars).

To me this simply does not make sense. If the problem is the piston/rod/bearing area why do I only hear the noise when the engine is warm? These components being mechanical parts, I would think that they should be making the noise all the time - they don't. Also, from what I understand, bad bearings would destroy the crankshaft and lock up the engine fairly quickly. This car has been driven over 10+ miles on 3 different occasions since the "diagnosis". It hasn't locked up yet.

I'm hoping someone has dealt with a similar issue and can tell me what their resolution was. Replacing an engine with 54K miles on it with one that has 80K - 100K AND paying $4,000.00+ US dollars to do it is simply not a very attractive possibility at this point.

March 10, 2008

When the engine gets warm ... it expands, Ie pistons and rods gets alittle bigger.

Tapping noise you hear.. Is it comming from the top or the bottom of the engine..

or is it more of a knock.

March 10, 2008

Definitely coming from the top of the engine. To me, it sounds just like a valve tapping as if I were low on oil, but I'm not. I have checked it several times.

March 10, 2008

Definitely coming from the top of the engine. To me, it sounds just like a valve tapping as if I were low on oil, but I'm not. I have checked it several times.

Could it be the tappets that need rejigging ..

take it to an independant.. and get them to asses it