16 Trail Runner, squealing sound when gear is in drive

Hello there gents, I'm a new member here, and was doing some research on this particular problem that I found recently. Obviously I could not locate someone with a similar concern as mine on here, or could have possibly missed it, and need your help. So what's happening basically; im getting this fairly loud squealing sound from underneath my truck driver/passenger side, it only happens when I position the shifter into D and apply the brakes, so not in motion but at a complete stop. It fades away once the truck gets fully warm. In reverse it is a bit milder, but completely stops if im in P or N. Any ideas? I'll try to post a link to a video that I recorded when I get the chance.

 

Is the sound continuous while in D or does it just squeak when selecting D from another gear?

 

Yea it is continuous while in D

 

It could be some kind of mount if it’s only happening when fully stopped. I usually get more vibrations at a full stop while in drive than I do if it’s in park. Or does it go away when rolling at a slow speed but the engine is still cold?

 

Not sure about the mount, since it does not sound like it at all, I get that there are more vibrations while in gear (D), but in this case it goes away when rolling, and then returns when you apply the brakes, and the same thing happens when Im lets say parked, I press on the brake, put it in drive and here it is. So if im driving on the road and stop at a traffic light, that noise comes back, but obviously disappears when the truck is in motion, that means it is not the brakes. Im not sure what it is, possibly the steering pump or a belt, at this point I have no idea. But you need to hear it. I'll try to post a link soon.

 

If you’re hearing it coming from underneath your sitting position, or passenger it isn’t anything engine related. Now if you can’t te, then I would say there is a strong possibility that it’s something related to belts, pulleys, tensioners, or even motor mounts. But yeah, some audio would definitely help as describing noise issues over text is very vague.

 

Mtbpsych - agreed on describing noise over text And indeed it could be the pulleys or the tensioners. Here is the link to the video.

https://disk.yandex.ru/i/6x05SaouxUmS1Q

 

Check them brake pads

 

I don't see how it could be brake pads if the truck is stopped, in 'D', with foot on the brake. That sounds like something is squealing while rotating...weird.

@Trailt4r3 - have you had anyone recreate the sound while you listened from outside the truck, to pinpoint the source location?

 

Never hurts to check pads

 

Exactly what I was thinking too, something is squealing while rotating, and its damn strange. No, I didn't have much help with that yet, might have to take it to my mechanic or Toyota, but don't have that much time currently. Its just bothering me, and I'm not sure how serious this is. Don't want anything to fail on me.

 

Pads seem to be fine.

 

How many miles on the truck? When was the last time you had belts replaced? Start with the most simple possibility. If the belts are old, that could be your problem.

Didn’t click on the russian video link since Ive never seen that format before...looks a bit suspicious. Unless you are from russia. Then I guess it’s more normal lol

 

Its got 55K on it only, haven't checked any belts since I bought it, which was not that long ago. In regards to the Russian link, it is perfectly safe, I wouldn't do that to anyone here, it is very similar to google drive, you can do a quick web search on "yandex disk". Nothing to worry about, have a listen to the video and let me know what you think, that would be greatly appreciated. And no im not from Russia, I actually do not accept the way google deals with privacy lately, that is the reason why I use an alternative.

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! I listened to your vid, it doesn't quite sound like a brake squeal, and not really like a tensioner/idler pulley, I had a squeak/squeal sound coming from my S-10 once, it went away when I changed the serpentine acc. drive belt, it kind of acted/sounds like yours does.

 

Thank you, appreciate the welcome. Interesting point about the serpentine drive belt, ill have to discuss that with the mechanic, have him inspect that section, not sure when ill be able to do that. Thanks for your input. Hopefully its nothing major, does it sound horrible though?

 

I had a idler pulley bearing go bad, it sounded worse. The thing with the idler pulley was the squeal was constant, the belt was just old and the RPM of the engine would make it worse at times, like when I put it in gear and the engine idled down a smidge, then when I would go down the road it went away. (probably road noise drowns it out)

 

Well, if your previous issue sounded worse and it was the idler pulley bearing going bad, then mine could be similar, a pulley or a belt. Thanks for your input once again. As a matter of fact, in my case the road does drown it down that's for sure, because I can't hear it at all while i'm on the road.

 

Your welcome, I hope this gives you a direction to troubleshoot your prob. It would be nice if it were a simple thing. good luck, let us know what you find.

 

REMOVE THE BELT THEN if the noise goes away it is a tension-er or bearing/components on the belt.

on my old GM sedan I started it up cold and made a rumble noise ... hard to find it .. I removed my belt then after another cold start no noise.. then my power steering pump had a bearing issue binding the pump.. fixed it ..
now if the noise still comes on with belt off .. could be a transmission issue internal failure.. check for leaks and check for the tranny fluid level..

 

You can physically try to spin idlers, if they feel rough... replace it. In my case the belt looked like it needed replacement, so I replaced it. You can take the belt off and try that too, Not sure if any 'codes' will pop-up or not after starting with belt off.

 

So i got some time to visit my mechanic, checked all the exhaust shields and apparently it was the skid plate that did rattle quite a bit. He adjusted the hanger and tightened the bolts and suggested to pay attention to it for a few days, since the noise is gone. He also mentioned if it does come back, it could be the internal transmission issue, and will need to be diagnosed further. There were no pulleys, bearings nor belts problems, according to his opinion. Hopefully it is not a transmission problem, did anyone here have any concerns with their transmission for the 5th gen Runner?

 

By the way, the transmission fluid level is not quite easy to check, since there is no dipstick. No leaks were found as well.

 

well the skid plate will rattle when a person did a poor job on installing the covers..probably the person cross threaded the bolt and then the cover will rattle..

 

the transmission fluid if its is low then the shifting will be erratic ...but on new vehicles internal parts will create a noise.. so the mechanic did a good job ...
post back if its fixed.

 

I'll definitely post back, as of right now, I can't hear that noise. Not sure how good of a job he did, even though he raised my truck on the hoist with me in it and asked me to shift, to sort of replicate the noise, but could not hear much, just normal sound when shifting gears, just a bit strange (that's what he said), which to me is no surprise, since most 5th gen runners sound similar. I don't know, just hope it ain't no transmission problems.

 

Take a good guess who replaced my oil 5000K ago, the good oooold stealership. So that could have been the culprit in the first place, cuz it did sound like a bucket with metal peaces in it.

 

So, no luck, just drove the truck, its been sitting outside in -15 C, and the noise is back, but not as pronounced, almost sounds like something is not lubricated, can't believe that a transmission could make such a sound. As a matter of fact, there is no erratic shifting, it pulls like a champ, and I drove the truck for about 20 min and the noise is gone again. It is very strange, if I'm just very slowly rolling in drive there is no sound, but once the brake is applied it comes back on. It looks like it mostly happens when it is noticeably cold outside, and the truck is warming up. That is such a piss off ): Any other ideas? Thinking of taking it to the dealer, not sure if it is such a good idea.

 

so the noise is different than after the pan bolts were setup correctly.
now the cat converter could have a rattle in it ...
the mechanic could use a hearing tool to put on the devices to correctly indicate the component ..
when cold the noise , then after the warm up the metal noise goes away.. metal shrinks when cold then when the exhaust heats up the components in the exhaust system expands and tightens up..

 

Appreciate all the replies guys. A little update, even though its been a while since I posted. My mechanic pretty much suggested to entirely remove the skid plate and drive without it for a week. It seems like it was the culprit after all, I do not hear that noise anymore, and tried to replicate it the same way I did previously during cold and warm weather. It did not reappear, will have to secure the skid plate more tightly I guess.