Before any one says it, I DID SEARCH! Any way Ive seen many threads about this and would like some general feedback from those with this problem. I took my car to the dealer yesterday so that they can fix this problem,( im am under warranty),when I went to pick up my car they told me they adjusted the tensioner and applied belt dressing and problem solved. WRONG! I drove the car around the block before I went home and the noise was still there. So I left my car there again so that they can look into it further. Mind you, I changed the belt about two weeks ago thinking that the belt was the culprit. My question for you aziners is, did any one with this problem have a similar experience, and if so what was the fix. Thanks in advance.

 

I have a similar issue and found 2 threads related to it:

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/problems-belt-tensioner-631119/
and
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/engine-making-noise-600239/

I tried reviving the threads but have gotten no response. My general take is that it is the belt tensioner itself making the noise. I will be making an appointment for my dealer to take a look next week.

 

Thanks for your input. Im pretty sure that my tensioner has to be replaced. I think the dealer is just trying to avoid having to change it. Im am still waiting to get my car today. I will update this post when I get my car back.

 

OMG...they cant adjust the tensioner since its AUTO ADJUSTABLE. It only mounts one way too

Friggin idiots they are.


Also, answer my PM, from your previous post
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/weird-noise-engine-bay-776199/

I can more than likely help you narrow it down since I went nuts trying to fix a similar issue.
I'm in Queens too

btw,...if you place your head by the passenger front tire, does the noise seem louder?

 

YES, fly! It is much more audible when I put my head down by the passenger tire.

 

I called the dealer and they told me they think its the timingbelt tensioner. Long story short, they ordered the part so I still dont have my car.

Fly, I only hear the sound when I accelerate. I cant hear it when its parked and idling.

 

take a look at your heatshield lower bolt.
It could be loose. Its right aobve where the two exhausts meet at the rear down pipe.

heres my previous thread with a picture of the bolt

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/fighting-squealing-noise-778285/

 

tensioner, idle pulley, or tensioner pulley. Replace all three since you have a new belt already.

 

I read your thread and I asked the service advisor about that and they looked at me a weird look , If I pick up my car today and the sound is still their I will mention it again. Thanks

 

I would like to change all of them but I have to see how much they are willing to do under the warranty

 

worst case scenario. the parts cost around $100 and do it yourself!

 

Believe me I thought about it, but then I thought why do I have a warranty for.

 

from my experience the timing belt tensioner will always make noise even when idling.

If its the tensioner ( serp belt ) its a simple swap of the pullies.

Not as hard to replace yourself. I have an idler and tensioner pulley Ii used for about 50 miles. if you need em.

 

the warranty is there so someone that doesnt know what they're doing can work on your car for days.

I've gotten it down to swapping out the tensioner in about 10minutes.

 

Believe me I know its a easy swap, We will see what the dealer tells me today. I will let you know what happens.

 

there is TSB on the heatshield bolt.
which is why I figured to take a quick peek at it.

 

where do do find out about TSBs?

 

Never mind, I found it. I will be sure to show this to the dealer if the problem doesnt go away.

 

Can you post the number of that TSB or a link, please?

 

If you click on the first sticky post under the problems&fixes thread there is a TSB thread. Its number 07-026

 

You where right, the dealer called and gold me it ended up being my heat shield. The bad part is im not covered for it under my warranty. They wanted to charge me about 170 but i got them to do the job for 85 dollars under good will. I have to go back on friday when the part arrives. I will keep everyone posted. thanks.

 

your basically going to pay them 85 dollars to tighten a bolt.

extension and swivel head on a 3/8 ratchet is all you need
and some of that blue bolt thread stuff.

i do hope they replace the whole heat shield though. Which involves removing the down pipe

 

Thats what im hoping cuz they told me the part is coming in tomorrow so I hope that means a new heat sheild.

 

UPDATE! I just got my car back a couple of hours ago, and the noise is gone. It was the half shield as recommended by many AZINERS. I was able to get it done for 50 bucks under good will. Thanks to all of you who answered this thread. I hope this thread will help any one else who has this problem.

 

I bought a 2005 TL about 18 months ago. It currently has about 45,000 miles on it.

Not long after bringing it home I noticed that the car/engine was a little squeally at low speed. Once I got past 25-30mph the sound disappeared. This appears to be the issue addressed by TSB07-026. Do I call the dealer and ask them to perfom this maintenance?

Over the last few months, the enginge started to squeak/chirp. It definitely comes from the passenger side of the engine compartment. The sound is present some days and gone others. The squeak/chirp speeds up and slows down according to how much gas is applied. Does this sound like the tensioner issue others mentioned?

Thanks

 

It could be either the tensioner or the heat shield. Have the dealer take a look at both.

 

Thanks, will do. I'm just going to call and see if they will look under warranty first. They told me that the base fee to investigate a problem is $114. Homey would rather not play that (points for reference).

 

They usually apply it to any fee they charge for service you have them perform.

 

I have a 2007 TL (24K miles) and upon cranking the car I hear a whistle/ticking noise coming from the engine. It gets louder when I push on the gas. Taken it twice to the dealership and the first time I was told it was the AC Idler...it was replaced. Noise came back. On the next visit I was told it was something with my timing belt and they replaced it and it's components. 2 weeks later...noise is back. This is very frustrating because you would think the dealership would know what this noise is and how to fix it.

 

not sure what year your car is, but there was a recall on the Tensioner/pulley.

 

Hi guys, I'm having a similar problem. I have the chirp that goes away at higher RPM's. I found this, what do y'all think? Should I go for it? I don't want to do anything unnecessary as it's been so damn come here, lately.

 

**So damn cold here**

I should mention I had the timing belt service done about 18 months and 10,000 miles ago.

 

I know this thread is old but i had the same issue and wanted to notate the fix. Import shop started by changing the serpertine belt, then the tensioner. worked for about a day or 2 then started back so they swapped belt with a different one which worked again for a day. Then read the service bulliten about changin out the bolts that SurfingScotty mentioned above. Didnt work. Then change out the AC compressor because using a stethoscope said the noise was the loudest in that area. Didnt work so lastly they changed the alternator which did the trick. The alternator i had on it was an after market once and the pulley grooves were very worn. If you have this and changing the belt, tensioner and bolts dont work try the alternator. Its about $400 but worth not having the noise.