strange car noise

[RS]

Just recently, when my car is idling it is now making a low gurgling or rumbling noise. Any thoughts on the possible cause? The car is 2004 Toyota Camry.

[hbarcat]

Originally Posted by RS

Just recently, when my car is idling it is now making a low gurgling or rumbling noise. Any thoughts on the possible cause? The car is 2004 Toyota Camry.

It's probably hungry.

[Relic]

exhaust leak? bad muffler?

[Truktek2]

You're going to have to be way more specific than that. Is the noise coming from inside the car? Outside? When? Hot? Cold? Do you have the A/C or blower motor on? Details please.

[Yerf Dog]

Gurgle? A/C evaporator drain plugged?

[Mike N]

Sounds expensive.

[RS]

Originally Posted by Truktek2

You're going to have to be way more specific than that. Is the noise coming from inside the car? Outside? When? Hot? Cold? Do you have the A/C or blower motor on? Details please.

seems to be coming from under the hood. Noise is audible with and without A/C on.

[MJ5150]

Louder speakers will take care of that. Try a couple in the dash pointing towards your face.

Or, you could put that Epi of yours in the backseat and crank it up too.

-Mike

[Relic]

Originally Posted by RS

seems to be coming from under the hood. Noise is audible with and without A/C on.

have you tried popping the hood and seeing if you could pinpoint it?

It's really hard to say what it might be. Could be just a belt, could be that your head gasket is toast, could be a whole lot of things.

Have you noticed anything else besides this sound?
Is the car sluggish, do you notice any (increased) smoke coming out of the exhaust? Do you hear any pinging or metallic noises when you step on the gas?

[Truktek2]

run the engine. have a friend step on the gas. see if noise changes. Maybe you can pinpoint it. Cycle a/c on & off. Maybe loading the engine can change the noise as well. I've seen pulley bearings make the noise you describe. spray wd-40 on pulleys one at a time & see if noise goes away. Good luck

[Mike N]

Loose nut behind the wheel?

[RS]

Originally Posted by Relic

Have you noticed anything else besides this sound?
Is the car sluggish, do you notice any (increased) smoke coming out of the exhaust? Do you hear any pinging or metallic noises when you step on the gas?

No to all of the above.

[hover]

are you, infact, carrying a half-full aquarium behind your seat while driving?
That'd slosh / gurgle.
OR, might you be low on engine coolant, and causing a gurgling sound coming from the draw from your over-flow tank?

[Radical Edward]

Originally Posted by RS

Just recently, when my car is idling it is now making a low gurgling or rumbling noise. Any thoughts on the possible cause? The car is 2004 Toyota Camry.

It's a Toyota.

[Mike N]

My guess is the water pump bearing, especially if it's the 4 cylinder.

[SelenaBassGirl]

my Town and Country did that a few weeks ago, and I turned that thing around and went back home. I guessed alternator, although in my past experience I lost power, this time I didn't. But come to find out, it was the bearings or something worn out inside the alternator. My boyfriend got one from a junk yard way cheaper than the auto stores and got it fixed. The engine sounds better than it did before-because it was going bad, when idling, the motor sounded rough, that's because the bearings was starting to wear down. I guess I didn't loose power cause the alternator itself was still good .

[RED5]

Originally Posted by RS

Just recently, when my car is idling it is now making a low gurgling or rumbling noise. Any thoughts on the possible cause? The car is 2004 Toyota Camry.

Do you have the AC on?

[RS]

Who had s belt tension regulator?

$262 parts and labor. How bad did I get screwed?

[Sonicfrog]

That seems a bit high, but not extreme... and then again, maybe not. The tensioner is probably buried under a whole bunch of stuff that had to be pulled before you could get to it. The mate used to have a 1999 Merc Cougar. Because the alternator was buried way back in the engine compartment, under the engine, It cost $500 + to replace it. Needless to say, we don't have that car anymore.

PS. I do my own car repairs, including swapping engines and transmissions. So, to me, paying anybody to do things is too expensive.

[RS]

They said it was a PITA hence the high labor charge, but I have no clue. The problem with auto repairs is it is hard to shop around. They seem to have competitve prices on tires so I end up just going back to them.