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Two new problems since I replaced the alternator and drive belt on this 2004 RAV4 a couple months ago.
1) Engine has become increasingly loud at various speeds (and idle) with chatter noticeable at lower RPM’s. The extra noise peaks at 1700 RPM. Although the noise went away when I removed the drive belt, it was also gone when the belt was first reinstalled for about ten minutes of driving. Then, the noise gradually reappeared. Would you still suspect a bad tensioner? I’m wondering if the new belt pushed the tensioner over the edge, so to speak?
2) Oil on top of the engine and in the holes (insulator side) for the No. 1 and 4 spark plugs. The combustion side of the plugs was dry. Small amounts of oil has been seeping out the sides for about a year, but no oil on top. I first noticed oil on top when changing the alternator a couple months ago and meticulously cleaned it all up. Now, the oil is back right where it was. What bothers me is those same spark plugs and the bolts holding the coil packs were almost loose when I checked them yesterday. I’m obsessive compulsive about torquing plugs properly, so this totally baffles me. Earlier this year, a relative thinking she was doing me a favor, decided to take the car somewhere for an oil change. I wonder if they pulled the plugs trying to upsell her on a plug job? Hopefully, this is as simple as valve cover gasket and tube seals needing replacing and nothing worse…
Your thoughts and comments appreciated…
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as for your oil leaking issue, might be a rocker cover gasket… but remember oil leaks with gravity, so follow the leak up and see where its coming from.
as for your noise complaint try these videos, it could be a tensioner, but i won’t make assumptions.
The problem I’m having with using a stethoscope is the louder engine noise, when present, somewhat mimics the normal engine sound. It’s just louder.
As this is RPM related (or at least varies somewhat by throttle position) being unable to manipulate the throttle myself while probing under the car is also challenging — I can’t tell if the throttle is being manipulated or the extra noise is ramping up or down by itself.
Any advice is appreciated.
As for the oil on top of the engine, this is what I encountered the other night. That’s not gravity seepage or being sloppy when filling the oil. Two months ago when changing the alternator I figured it was exactly that, so I cleaned up every drop of oil. But the oil “leak” returned as you can see below. There have been no oil fills since then.
That plug and the bolt holding the coil pack were loose. The No. 4 plug was also loose. I already picked up a new valve cover gasket and will change it out soon.
Did those plugs back out on their own? I’m so obsessive compulsive about torquing plugs properly that I’m really stumped by this…
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