**Need Help** Sound coming from under vehicle.

Hey guys,

I haven't even been an hour on the forum so I apologize if this isn't the right place to post this. I have a 2005 4runner and haven't had any issues until now. I drove the vehicle maybe 30 minutes before this issue started. I went out for another ride and this time began to hear a grinding noise coming from what seems to be the bottom of the vehicle. The sound only happens when I change gear out of park. Once I place the vehicle back into park it stops. It happened late at night so I didn't get a chance to check the transmission fluid yet since after doing some research I noticed that I can only check it by going under the vehicle and draining it. (I thought the 2005 4runner had a dipstick in the engine bay for trans fluid).

If I do check the trans fluid and it seems fine, what else could the issue be? Check the link below for the sound the vehicle is making.

https://youtube.com/shorts/9acVURjHMo8?feature=share

 

I would check exhaust. Exhaust heat shields first. Catalytic converter or muffler could have let go.

 

hey thanks for the response, I tired my best to take a photo but I think I may have found the issue.

Not sure what the part is but kinda looks like it’s hanging

 

Looks like a fallen heat shield sitting upside down on the frame brace

 

That’s exactly what it was lol, I removed it. How important is the heat shield? Should I be concerned about putting it back on?

 

^Yes the heat shields are there to prevent the exhaust (and more critically the catalytic converters) from burning something else. Usually the heat shield mounting hardware are the first to rot out - coworker's 2016 Tacoma had one fall off after just 5 years. If you take a picture of the original mounting location, we can help you come up with an inexpensive mounting solution.

 

Heat shield is "optional". I just pull them off.