Groaning Noise

[CloudCity]

Your welcome. Make sure to double check the PS reservoir. I only had a glimpse of inside. But I saw what may be the screen (I should not be able to) and did not see a drip of fluid off the stick on cap. This may just have been video tricks of the eye and camera man not being a pro,,,LOL. But if it is that low, the vane pump is being damaged.

This was my take-away as well. My earlier reply has a link to my post, but you may not need to replace yours if your screen isn;t clogged, just fill it up to the fill lines. I would be concerned where the fluid went however. Once confirmed filled to the proper level, drive it then check for leaks or dropped level. If leak is minor add AT-205 leak sealer, drive for a while, recheck.

Finally, in the first video it did look like your fan was slightly off balance, that's another consideration if we are mistaken on the reservoir levels.

 

[70 FJ40]

This afternoon I had some time to do some check on the Land Cruiser. Went through the steps @2001LC recommended. Confirmed the power steering fluid is at the proper level. fan clutch acts like it should, only about 1/2 turn when spinning freely and does;t seem to be any wobble. When I took the serpentine belt off and started the truck the whining noise was gone, so nothing having to do with the timing belt. The tensioner pulley and one of the idler pulleys spin quite freely and both make a little noise when they do. I know from watching some of your videos that the older pulley shouldn't spin this freely but what about the tensioner pulley? Should I replace that bearing as well?

 

[2001LC]

New tensioner and idler pulley bearings do not free spin at all. They are silent when spun. Used are going to spin more, but should stop in just a few revolution. They should be silent also. If you can hear them as they spin, replace them.

Replace them.

Then we've knock out those as a sources. Look through my index in MASTER LINK below on how to. They go on one way only, don't reverse or they'll not seat on mounts properly. Tension has a left hand bolt thread.

While belt off also turn they other pulleys i.e. alternator and vane pump. Here we look for binding or roughness. They are not like testing the idler or tensioner, but should turn smooth and silent as you turn by hand (not trying to free spin).

 

[70 FJ40]

Thanks. I'm due for a timing belt change so I'm thinking just get it all done at once. My mechanic has quoted me nearly $1100 for the job which is about right from what I understand. That's including the timing belt and water pump kit from NAPA which costs $450. They said the OEM kit costs a little over $800. Both parts kits seem quite a bit too high. I want to do a complete job with all preventative replacement items. Not sure I'm up to it or have the time to do the job myself. I like my mechanic and he was a head mechanic for a Toyota dealer for 10 years before having his own shop so that helps me feel like he knows what he's doing with my truck. Should I just ask him if I can get the parts I want? If so where can I find good complete parts list and supplier? I have had other shops tell me they don't like this sort of thing though.

 

[getco]

I posed the parts I used here: Completed My First Timing Belt Job

Parts + Shipping were ~$550 from McGeorge Toyota (Link to parts store). I bought Aisin fan clutch / fan bracket on Amazon, and they are not included in the total.

 

[CA Cruisin]

I could have written your original post word for word. Cold weather has my 99LC groaning something fierce. Started 2 weeks ago. Initially it groaned only with wheel turns at startup and left once car was warm. Now it stays groaning most of the time while driving after warming up. PS fluid level is fine. Might be air in the lines. But it is interesting to see your fan slightly wobbling - need to check mine. Truck has 140k now, I imagine the pulleys are also wearing. Thanks for this post and the videos and all the helpful replies.

 

[Number6]

Thanks! Very useful thread as it looks like i'm having a similar problem with mine- found out what "worn out" is like in these pulleys. Need a new belt, and doing that soon, so i'll be checking. Mine has 275K and I've no idea if the belt drive stuff has ever been changed...

 

[70 FJ40]

I have been chasing this for a while. The timing belt change didn't help quiet the noise. I told the mechanic to change out the drive belt idler pulleys but he checked them and said they were fine. I wish he would have changed them anyway. I told him it's still making the groaning noise. I started it up for him to listen. He said "Oh that noise. Sorry. I didn't notice but now you mention it I can hear it." Doh! Anyway we figured out it was the alternator making the worst noise as it got slightly quieter when reducing the load. Turning off lights was enough to notice a slight difference. He said he would give me a 10% discount on labor to replace alternator. But still $486. I replaced it myself a couple weeks ago with one from Denso's website for $165. Took me a little over 2 hrs. The idler pulleys are still making a little noise but the worst is now gone.

Kinda like the mechanic. And thought I'd finally found a good one. Now I don't know. He owns his own shop and used to be lead mechanic for a Toyota dealer so he knows Toyotas pretty well but this really frustrated me. I had told them 1/2 the reason I was bringing the truck to them was to diagnose and fix the groaning noise. I said "Just replace the pulleys while you've got it apart to make sure they are not the problem" I value reliability for my Land Cruiser over a few extra bucks for parts I may not need. He said he doesn't like to just throw parts at stuff if it's not necessary. I get that and appreciate it but when the customer specifically says to and you don't. Ahhh! Frustrating. Now I remember why I generally have to do it myself if I want it done right. Thing is I don't really enjoy doing the mechanical work.

 

[Number6]

I have a company Equinox that is for the day in day out use, so I have the luxury of leaving the cars alone until I'm in the mood to get to them. The LC is my backup though. With the stimulus money and some extra time since work is slow, I'm going into my Toyotas first, with the LC the top priority, I'll also exploring the old 4Runner as well (haven't really done much of that) as it needs a lot- but hey it was cheap!