Chattering Sound When Accelerating

[Bill Hutchison]

What an informative site!!

I've just bought a 2002 model Avensis Estate 1.8 VVTI GS (Petrol) with 47,000 miles on the clock from a well known group in Glasgow.

Within the first day of taking possession, I've been noticing a "chattering sound" as I depress the accelerator but only when under-way. There is no such sound detectable if I rev the engine out of gear.

The only other way I can describe it is like when you were a kid and you stuck a lollypop stick across the spokes of your bikes wheels to make a noise as you peddled.

Any advice would be most greatful, as I have informed the dealer that I am heading backin to see him at the weekend. He has already started back-tracking by telling me that I would have to book-in to let a mechanic listen to it.

Cheers

Bill

P.S. Thanks for the previous postings within the forum advising on the cause of steering column squeaking. You've guessed it, I've got it.

[kevniles]

Had this too. The dealer explained it to me as the result of the fuel mixture and carbon build up on a regulator. He said they could take it in for a cleaning, but this was not good for the engine. So he recommended that I try the following first, and it really worked: While driving, rev the engine till almost into the red zone, keep it there for a second or two, and then release. Do this over and over for about 15 minutes (obviously you have to find a relatively open road for this).

His explanation was that alternatimg high and low revs burns off the carbon. He explained why just driving at high speed wont burn it off, but I dont remember the explanation.

The problem came back after about a year, but the same trick fixed it again.

Good luck.

[Bill Hutchison]

Many Thanks Kevniles!

I take it that simply lifting the revs up to the required point while at a standstill won't do the trick?

Cheers

Bill

[cal]

Hello Bill,

I had this too. First of all, I thought it was something to do with the relay somewhere. But in my case, it turns out to be the plastic trim above the speedo/rev counter instruments. Tightened the screws and that was cured.

Hope it gets sorted soon.

[Bill Hutchison]

Back to the drawing board.

I tried the "alternate high/low revs" trick but to no avail.

I checked the screws above the rev & speedo display but they are tight.

I took the car into the place I bought it from (Nissan & Rover Dealership) and there were no mechanics on site.

The salesman took the car for a spin with me and "struggled to detect the sound".

I'm of the oppinion that the "chattering sound" is eminating from something clipping a guard as it rotates or (more seriously) from a drive shaft or something (I'm not mechanicallyminded).

There is also slight feeling of a shake through the control peddles at the same time as the "chattering sound" can be detected.

Help!!! I'm becoming paranoid. :ffs:

Bill

[warriorman]

The chattering i get is from my missus telling me to slow down!! : :)

[nezerr]

chattering noise !!

its worth checking the plastic cover thats over the engine as mine was lose when i bought the car, this made a chattering sound.

toyota fitted new nuts and washers to the cover and now it sounds sweet.

Your toyota dealer should offer u a free safty check and solve this problem for you!

[Mkuk0]

The chattering i get is from my missus telling me to slow down!! : :)

←

Hehe I got one of those as well!!

[Bill Hutchison]

I took the car back to the dealer (non Toyota) and had a mechanic road test it with myself as passenger.

His verdict, a gearbox/drive bearing problem, which ties in with a similar posting I found on this site from 1-year ago.

The dealer is now trying to find out from another of their Arnold Clark branches (Toyota Dealer) if their is any dispensation within the Toyota warranty to carry out the work as there is only 47,000 on the clock and the maufacturers warranty expired in March.

Regardless, I claim that the vehicle sold to me was defective, and as I only collected the vehicle on Wednesday evening and reported a "noise" on the Friday they should be duty bound to rectify the fault.

Bill

[Paulas]

It sounds like you are describing "pinking". I had this effect when I was accelerating particularly and was particularly noticeable when the engine was under load like when going up hill. The problem was caused by dirt on the air flow sensor. This can be checked by measuring the resistance across the sensor (but I've no idea what the reading should be). Once my sensor was cleaned the problem went away.

[nezerr]

just spoke to taxi driver friend about this noise he says soap on the drive belt should cure it????

[Bill Hutchison]

The dealer "claims" it was unable to get Toyota to agree to cover the remedial work necessary to repair the offending input/output drive bearings.

They are therefore having to make good the repair, by "farming it out to another small garage that does some work for them".

The car is booked in for repair on Monday and due for return on Wednesday (at their cost).

We'll see how it sounds after this work has been carried out.

Many thanks for all the input, it's greatly appreciated.

Bill

[Bill Hutchison]

Got my car back this evening, with the repair having been carried out on the offending input and/or output driveshaft bearings.

The "chattering" sound has now gone!!!!!!

The salesperson informed me that it cost them over £300 to repair off-site.

I'm quite sure if I were to have had to pay to have the same work carried out, it would have been more in the order of £700.

Many thanks again to everyone for their suggestions and in partucular to Member No. 10505 TREUNO, whos posting on the 31-3-04 (in answer to another members question) gave me the answer I required and saved me a small fortune in the process.

It certainly helps to go back to a second hand car dealer armed with some information as to the nature of the problem, giving the impression that you seem to have some clue as to what you are talking about.

Cheers

Bill

[Mkuk0]

Glad you got it resolved to your satisfaction Bill, this forum is definitely a fount of knowledge!