Rattle in the engine bay

[phsycle]

This rattle in the engine bay has been driving me crazy for a while. Finally got some time tonight to take a look. It only happens when the RPM's are at ~500 or so---which is when the transmission is in "D" and at idle. (in neutral, it goes away). So, lifted the hood and it was the engine dust cover that was the culprit.

My first thought was that it must be hitting something underneath, so let's try some washers under the bolts to raise the cover a bit. Didn't work. Well, that's about as far as I got. I can't see what it could be hitting? What is the solution to this, aside from taking it completely off? (It is off right now, but since it's the wife's DD, it has to be "pretty"...even on the inside. )

Thanks for any advice.

 

[2000UZJ]

Does it rattle with the engine cover off?

 

[phsycle]

Sorry, didn't specify---no, the rattle is gone with the cover off.

 

[2000UZJ]

Check the brackets it attaches to. I'd say leave it off.

 

[phsycle]

The brackets are all tight and I made sure the bolts were all tight as well. Wouldn't mind just leaving it off, but like I said, it's the wife's rig---she likes a purty engine bay...

 

[petrotk40]

Is it hitting where the oil filler cap goes through the hole in the cover?

 

[phatairman]

Really, how often does she look at the engine bay? My wife never never looks at hers. A family of squirrels could live in there and she would never know.

 

[2000UZJ]

Really, how often does she look at the engine bay? My wife never never looks at hers. A family of squirrels could live in there and she would never know.

you have a 100?

 

[phatairman]

Nope. Just doing a little research for a friend.

 

[2000UZJ]

Nope. Just doing a little research for a friend.

you need a 100...

 

[phatairman]

I need a 200....but mortgage, day care, bah bah bah, gets in the way.

 

[phsycle]

Is it hitting where the oil filler cap goes through the hole in the cover?

I don't think it is. Sounds like something underneath the cover. I'll double check tonight.

Really, how often does she look at the engine bay? My wife never never looks at hers. A family of squirrels could live in there and she would never know.

I have her check the oil and coolant level fairly frequently.

 

[smm3]

I don't think it is. Sounds like something underneath the cover. I'll double check tonight.



I have her check the oil and coolant level fairly frequently.

That's pretty impressive. Does she have a sister?

 

[phsycle]

She does, and I'd love to set her up with a random dude on the internet.

 

[DHC2Pilot]

Bwahhahaha - Now that is funny!!!

Just to stay relevant to the thread. I had the same issue, popped the hood and noticed one of the nuts was missing that holds the cover on. Ordered and installed new nut ($4.22 from lexus, $1.25 toyota - you kidding me??) and rattle when away. Been 2 weeks and the rattle is back, though not as bad. All the nuts are tight. It is driving me nuts - very curious how you resolve this...

 

[mcalvarez73]

that engine cover has foams underneath it on 4 sides... it will vibrate if its gone!!! one of the sides on mine was missing one.. i replaced it and it hasn't vibrated since..

 

[phsycle]

Thanks, mcalverez. Where do you get the foam? I looked this morning and on the oil cap side, none missing, but on the opposite side, there were two big blocks of foam, which I saw one was missing.

 

[mcalvarez73]

PHSYCLE, i bought mine at homedepot.. something similar

 

[phsycle]

So it doesn't have to be a special high temp foam (not sure if there is such a thing, but I know it gets pretty hot under there).

 

[maxse01]

I'm hoping this is the issue with both of my 100's. My wifes LX started doing it around 109k, only at a stop in D, shifting the P or N and it goes away. Then about a month later (at 95k) my LC started doing the same thing. This weekend I will pull the covers off both of them and see if that's the culprit. Will report back.