We have loved our alphard which we bought a year ago... unfortunately it has developed an intermittent rattle...my local mechanic has had his stethoscope out and narrowed it down to the exhaust manifold area and thinks it could be be something broken off the catalytic converter? Although it could be behind this too. But the engine still purrs underneath the rattle. he is unfamiliar with the car and suggested I ask someone more specialist. 

 

I have attached a recording of the sound in full swing...although sometimes it might not occur at all...the car also seems to be quite thirsty for oil. 
 

Any thoughts? I live in East Sussex...any suggestions for someone local to look at it?

3 hours ago, Jerry said:

We have loved our alphard which we bought a year ago... unfortunately it has developed an intermittent rattle...my local mechanic has had his stethoscope out and narrowed it down to the exhaust manifold area and thinks it could be be something broken off the catalytic converter? Although it could be behind this too. But the engine still purrs underneath the rattle. he is unfamiliar with the car and suggested I ask someone more specialist. 

 

I have attached a recording of the sound in full swing...although sometimes it might not occur at all...the car also seems to be quite thirsty for oil. 
 

Any thoughts? I live in East Sussex...any suggestions for someone local to look at it?

IMG_7485.MOV IMG_7489.MOV

 

The link didn't work for me ! Probably me.

 

What engine do you have ? 3.0L or 2.4L

3.0L

Hi video doesn't work and is it at start up or all the time. There isnt anything special about the Alphard engines so no reason any good mechanic can't work on them 

It is intermittent...sometimes on startup...sometimes not!

So when it does happen does it stay or is it a short rattle then gone. What mileage you at?

1 hour ago, Liam said:

So when it does happen does it stay or is it a short rattle then gone. What mileage you at?

Sometimes it stays for a while - but usually if I back off the accelerator a smidge it goes again. 

It could be the vvt cam it's been a problem on other Toyota engines, if the noise goes away after a couple of seconds. If the noise stays I would look at the idlers on the belts 

5 hours ago, Jerry said:

Sometimes it stays for a while - but usually if I back off the accelerator a smidge it goes again. 

 

Only after start up, or sometimes quiet and then rattles later in your drive ?

 

Do you have VRC and TRC ?

No vrc/trc

72000miles....timing chain is on the list to do...

1 hour ago, Jerry said:

72000miles....timing chain is on the list to do...

The 3.0l doesn't have a chain it's timing belt, I would get it changed if it hasn't been done. Get the water pump done at same time. Can you try and get the video of the sound working would help to point you in the right direction

It has hardly rattled over the last couple of days...typical! Will try to get some video of the rattle in the light this weekend...

1 hour ago, Jerry said:

It has hardly rattled over the last couple of days...typical! Will try to get some video of the rattle in the light this weekend...

 

The ABS system can create some sounds as a self test is performed, but that should only occur on start up