Toyota Auris T3 1.6 Vvti Reversing Noise

[Krg]

I have just bought a Toyota auris.

When reversing the reverse winding noise seems to be a louder and deeper than other cars I've driven not even my old Toyota corolla was as noisey.Is this normal or should I be concerned?

[Krg]

The age of the car is 2008. And only done 55.000 miles

[TomdeGuerre]

They all whine in reverse to a degree, some worse than others. It's because reverse gear is a straight cut gear rather than the others which are helical cut and much quieter. I'd worry more if it was a loud clicking or rattling sound which might indicate chipped teeth on the gears.

Make sure the gearbox has the right oil in it and is up to the level. I believe it is 75W gear oil and there's a level plug on the side of the box. If that's OK and the box behaves OK otherwise I wouldn't bother about it.

[Krg]

That's really good to know.. like I Said most cars I've driven which is quite a lot, haven't wined as much but there is definitely no clicking or rattling and it finds the gear ok and seems to reverse ok.

I didn't want to go back to the dealer when it might of been nothing.

I will do the other checks as you mentioned

Thank you I appreciate your time.

[TomdeGuerre]

That's really good to know.. like I Said most cars I've driven which is quite a lot, haven't wined as much but there is definitely no clicking or rattling and it finds the gear ok and seems to reverse ok.

I didn't want to go back to the dealer when it might of been nothing.

I will do the other checks as you mentioned

Thank you I appreciate your time.

I should really mention this - if you're checking the gearbox oil level yourself you must raise the car up level. Don't run it up onto ramps at the front then crawl underneath to remove the plug and check the oil level because you'll get a false reading. When you remove the plug you should look out for oil just dripping out and if the gearbox is tilted backwards (as it would be if the car was raised on ramps at the front) then you would gt the impression that the oil level was low.

[BLUEJ]

I have the same engine 1.6 vvti the SR model, mine does the same, in reverse the whining noise is extremely loud, normal reversing sounds like your reversing at max speed, i had the gearbox oil changed at the last service with Toyota but no difference in noise, to me the clutch/gearbox in this model is the weak link of the vehicle, probably the worse i have encountered in 30yrs of driving, driving in 5th gear at 70mph it sounds as if the gearbox will explode, wish there was a solution but i don't think there is, pity as the rest of the vehicle is absolutely sound, if anyone has a solution pls let us know.

[Krg]

Thanks for the info Tom.

James I haven't experienced it much in high speed yet as only had it the other day. But when I did it did feel it needed another gear..but seemed to be ok other than that.

The reverse though I agree it does sound like I'm going full speed in reverse. nice car other than that. Not quite as solid feeling though as the corola.

[BLUEJ]

Hi Kez, as i mentioned in my opinion the gearbox is the big letdown, i agree with your take on needing a 6th gear, i always feel its like your driving in a lower gear i.e. 5th feels like 4th, 4th like 3rd & so on. i don't know if theres a solution out there, pity as overall the car is absolutely sound mechanically, in fact i have spent less in 2yrs ownership with this car than any car i have owned in 30yrs, so 90% fine, pity about that gearbox, if you get the gearbox/transmission oil changed let us know if it makes a difference, as i have said i did at Toyota but didn't notice any change but someone else may notice a difference.

[TomdeGuerre]

Yes, the Mk1 Auris with the 5 speed box is too low geared, much better when they introduced the 6 speed. Personally I'd rather have seen them introducing a higher final drive ratio rather than an extra gear, i'm fine with 5 gears if i'm driving a manual, i just don't get this 1-2-3-4-5-6 every time from rest and if you use block changing then 'Yo frown on that.

[Krg]

Yes I will let you know.

Yeah I know what you mean by the higher final drive ratio. My old corrola did and seemed better.

Something also with the auris I don't like the fact it tells you when to shift. Surely if your a driver you would know this already. Other than these few glitches I do like the car and its very nice to drive.

[Auris 1.6 vvt-i]

Something also with the auris I don't like the fact it tells you when to shift. Surely if your a driver you would know this already.

It doesn't "tell" you... It "advises" you and you don't necessarily need to obey. The shift indicators advises you when to shift gear for better economy. If the shift up light comes on and you keep pushing it, the car "knows" you are in a "race mood/mode" and the light goes off, then comes on again at much higher RPM's.

[TomdeGuerre]

Something also with the auris I don't like the fact it tells you when to shift. Surely if your a driver you would know this already.

It doesn't "tell" you... It "advises" you and you don't necessarily need to obey. The shift indicators advises you when to shift gear for better economy. If the shift up light comes on and you keep pushing it, the car "knows" you are in a "race mood/mode" and the light goes off, then comes on again at much higher RPM's.

Tells you, reminds you, prompts you, suggests to you – how about nags you? As a married man I can tell you it’s all the same.

When my wife wanted me to put up a bookshelf, I got the whole gambit; hints, sighs, suggestions, reminders, prompts – you name it. I swear she got me with subliminal messages while I was sleeping because one morning I woke up and for some inexplicable reason went and got wood, my drill, screwdriver, spirit level etc and just did it. Very subtle but very effective they are. I got my own back though and took about a year or so to paint it.

So I reckon car manufacturers employed females to design these wee “nag” lights in the instrument panel – after all, if you want something done why not go to the experts.

[TomdeGuerre]

I have the same engine 1.6 vvti the SR model, mine does the same, in reverse the whining noise is extremely loud, normal reversing sounds like your reversing at max speed, i had the gearbox oil changed at the last service with Toyota but no difference in noise, to me the clutch/gearbox in this model is the weak link of the vehicle, probably the worse i have encountered in 30yrs of driving, driving in 5th gear at 70mph it sounds as if the gearbox will explode, wish there was a solution but i don't think there is, pity as the rest of the vehicle is absolutely sound, if anyone has a solution pls let us know.

James, I had an 09 Auris SR but with the Multi Mode Transmission. The SR has Toyota Motorsport lowered and stiffened suspension along with low profile 225 x 45 x 17” tyres. You get more road noise transmitted through the suspension and the wide tyres generate a lot of road noise, especially as they wear down. I found the recommended tyre pressures 34 psi were too high and I dropped mine to about 30 instead for local running. When I changed the tyres I dropped the load rating as well which helped a bit.

If you’re ever looking for replacement tyres I’d advise you to talk to the tyre fitting guys, maybe ask them which are the quietest tyres. I know Avons were recommended for quietness at one time but don’t know how they currently stand.

[Auris 1.6 vvt-i]

Something also with the auris I don't like the fact it tells you when to shift. Surely if your a driver you would know this already.

It doesn't "tell" you... It "advises" you and you don't necessarily need to obey. The shift indicators advises you when to shift gear for better economy. If the shift up light comes on and you keep pushing it, the car "knows" you are in a "race mood/mode" and the light goes off, then comes on again at much higher RPM's.

Tells you, reminds you, prompts you, suggests to you – how about nags you? As a married man I can tell you it’s all the same.

When my wife wanted me to put up a bookshelf, I got the whole gambit; hints, sighs, suggestions, reminders, prompts – you name it. I swear she got me with subliminal messages while I was sleeping because one morning I woke up and for some inexplicable reason went and got wood, my drill, screwdriver, spirit level etc and just did it. Very subtle but very effective they are. I got my own back though and took about a year or so to paint it.

So I reckon car manufacturers employed females to design these wee “nag” lights in the instrument panel – after all, if you want something done why not go to the experts.

Jeeeeeeesus... If we said "I'll do it", then we'll do it! No need to remind us every six months! What's wrong with these women...? :lol2:

[Krg]

Haha. Will be calling it the nag light from now on.

I know that feeling. And as stated if we say we will do it will will do it..when we are ready!!

[BLUEJ]

Thanks Tom, i got four new Goodyear Eagle F1's put on last year, the road holding is phenominal, you can push the car into bends when every other car around you has to slow down their that good, their like glue, then again i got the xl version, don't know if that makes a difference on road noise.

Reference the gearbox:

1. Can anything be done to improve it.

2. Would a new clutch system make a difference, mine has done 58k & im guessing its still the original clutch, would a new clutch improve it even slighly?, i realise its an older model & Toyota to their credit improved the gearbox & added a sixth gear.

3. Ref the change gear indicator, i hope Tom your good lady doesn't read your posts or there could be plenty more DIY coming your way, it may well have been a female invention, up our way the local train station has a new carpark for 30 cars or 10 female spaces lol, my good lady doesn't read my posts, PPhew.

[TomdeGuerre]

Thanks Tom, i got four new Goodyear Eagle F1's put on last year, the road holding is phenominal, you can push the car into bends when every other car around you has to slow down their that good, their like glue, then again i got the xl version, don't know if that makes a difference on road noise.

Reference the gearbox:

1. Can anything be done to improve it.

2. Would a new clutch system make a difference, mine has done 58k & im guessing its still the original clutch, would a new clutch improve it even slighly?, i realise its an older model & Toyota to their credit improved the gearbox & added a sixth gear.

3. Ref the change gear indicator, i hope Tom your good lady doesn't read your posts or there could be plenty more DIY coming your way, it may well have been a female invention, up our way the local train station has a new carpark for 30 cars or 10 female spaces lol, my good lady doesn't read my posts, PPhew.

James, I agree with you about the road holding, mines went round corners as if it was on rails, only thing that let it down was the little 1.6 engine. To be fair it’s no slouch if you motor it through the gears but it lacked power for anything serious, figures of something like 11 seconds + for the 0 - 60 tell their own story. If only they’d made a 1.6 turbo version or even a 2 litre NA to up the power a bit.

As regards the gearbox, I don’t think there’s much you can do about it. I can’t see that changing the clutch would help any unless the clutch is worn enough to be slipping or if the clutch / flywheel assembly has become unbalanced. But that would manifest itself in a vibration that you could bring on sitting still and revving the engine whereas you get the noise on the road.

One thing you might want to look at is the exhaust system, it it’s badly hung it can cause noise and vibration that can go through the cabin. Get underneath and check whether it’s hanging fairly free on the rubber mounts ie not under any bias or tension either way and not hitting off any part of the underside. Just when I remember there’s a spring loaded flange joint in the exhaust up towards the engine end at the manifold which might be worth checking.

As regards the wife, well, she’s seen some of my posts. She came through to my desk one day and read the screen so I waited for the tempest to break out but nope, she laughed. Clouds parted, angels sang and I realised life can be fair, if only for a short time. You might as well be honest with them, they’re far too clever to be fooled for any length of time.

[BLUEJ]

Clouds parted & angels sang but check the look because thats a sure sign your not off the hook........................................................

Haha

Thanks Tom for the replies, appreciated.