Hello,
I have a 2004 Lexus ES 330 with the motor 3MZ-FE. I got the timing belt, water pump and timing cover seals changed on my car by a private mechanic about 4 months ago. I used the Aisin kits Aisin TKT-026 & AISIN SKT-004 which I bought on Amazon.
After the work was done, my car started to make a metallic noise when the engine is warmed up. I got worried, as my car has an interference engine. After bringing the car back to my mechanic a month ago, I was told that my idler bearing was making noise and that the belt itself was also making noise (this noise stopped when the belt was wet with water & started back up as soon as it dried out). So, I changed but the timing belt as well as the idler pulley. I also changed the idler tensioner, although it wasn't necessary according to my mechanic. I opted for Genuine Toyota OEM parts as I was worried about the quality of the parts I bought on Amazon.
Now here I am again, a month later, with the same sound... As a reference, the sound is exactly the one in this video but slightly less loud : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Tl0ELxLkk
I find it hard to believe that the belt itself is producing this sound. I've searched the internet to see if anyone else has had this issue, and from what I've found, I am not alone. But no one seems to know what precisely is causing this issue.
The car itself runs very well, I haven't had any other issues. Before changing the timing belt & accessories, my car was very quiet. I also want to repeat that the sound is not present when the engine is cold, it only begins when the engine is warmed up.
What could this be?
Thanks,
Sabrina
It's important to note the difference between the serpentine belt (also called fan belt, accessory belt etc.), which is the one visible in your video, and the timing belt which is inside the engine. They both have tensioners. So which one did you get serviced the second time?
You can remove the serpentine belt and run the engine for a short time. Do that and if the noise stops, then you can eliminate the timing belt as a cause.
I am well aware of the difference and it is indeed the timing belt that is causing the sound and not the serpentine belt. The noise is no longer present when the serpentine belt is removed, according to my mechanic.
i would love to have scotty's input on my situation considering he has the same vehicle as mine
You still didn't answer the question which tensioner you had serviced.
"The noise is no longer present when the serpentine belt is removed,"
Then logically, this means the noise isn't coming from the timing belt. With the belt off, feel each pulley by hand to see if it's loose, noisy, or difficult to turn.
Stay tuned into Scotty's Youtube so you don't miss him answering your question.
Oops my bad. I meant to say the sound is still present when the serpentine belt is removed. I apologize for the confusion.
The tensioner that was changed was the one provided in the Aisin kit TKT-026 mentionned above.
hmm so new pump, idler, tensioner and belt.
I guess I would take the cover back off and check everything again to make sure nothing is loose. And check the chain guides too.
I guess I am looking for insight as the online threads I have read as well as my mechanic are telling me the belt is the problem. But I refuse to put a chinese belt on my Lexus.
I am wondering if anyone else has had this issue with the 3MZ-FE motor and what they did to solve the issue.
Here are some threads as a reference point.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-1st-to-4th-gen-1990-2006/944763-timing-belt-noise-2.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-1st-gen-1999-2003/458739-passenger-side-engine-noise.html