Noise When Replacing Timing Cover 2001 Toyota Camry 2.2 5SFE

Jackson on 08/02/2021 - 14:22
Last edited 23/02/2021 - 16:09

Hi All, did a timing kit on the weekend replaced all belts, tensioner, idler pulley, oil seal pump gasket and shaft seal. All went pretty well, however upon replacing the timing cover and starting there was an additional noise of something hitting the top timing cover (a bit like a tap tap tap sound). I put a screwdriver on it and listened to the handle and definitely coming from the timing cover. I took the cover off and the noise stopped, checked timing belt was tight and no issues apart from some of the gasket around the timing cover being broken. Took those broken bits off, replaced the cover, still get the noise.

Anyone know what the issue would be? I can't seem to find anyone selling the seal on it's own, and the timing cover itself looks like it has no issues. Also how bad or not is is to drive without one of these timing covers?

Update: Thanks for the input, I found the part for $17 thanks @mapax and his suggestion, however when the local dealer wouldn't take payment over the phone (meaning 2 trips in to get the part, as they didn't have it in stock and wouldn't order it without payment up front) I collected the remaining pieces of gasket and glued them back in with some RTV silicon, and then built up some RTV in the gaps that remained. As it turns out this gasket while fitting into a groove on the cover, didn't have a groove on the other side and so increased the clearance by about 5mm, and since there's been no knocking sound. Hopefully don't have to worry about that again for another 100k or 8 years (or maybe never again)

Thanks to all that helped!

Automotive

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 08/02/2021 - 15:19

    Are there any rub marks or dents inside the cover to indicate where the noise is coming from?

    • Jackson on 08/02/2021 - 15:33

      no not that I can see, the cover looks quite ok apart from the old and broken seal. I've not easily been able to find the seal online either.

      Some of the possibilities I thought of were:

      1. broken seal flapping about inside
      2. The seal not being there meant the timing cover now sat too close and caused some rubbing (but there's no marks, and it sounds more like a tap than a rub)
      3. The cover is just tapping against the part it mates to due to general vibration, except that it doesn't sounds like vibration it sounds more like a tap in time with the engine

      When I loosen the cover it's quieter but it doesn't go away until I take it right off.

      • mapax on 08/02/2021 - 15:57

        Can you measure the seal and use something as a makeshift spacer to see if that temporarily fixed the problem?

        • Jackson on 08/02/2021 - 16:01

          it's a about 6mm maybe, but it squishes down a lot. I might have to go back and glue all the pieces into it and see if that works, but I get the feeling it isn't going to. I might be able to us a piece of some sort of weather stripping if I can find heat resistant stuff, it's about the same sponginess as a door seal or a bit more spongey

          • mapax on 08/02/2021 - 16:25
            +1

            @Jackson: What you make doesn’t need to be particularly heat proof, it just needs to space the cover long enough and at the correct height to see if the seal is the issue.
            Partsouq.com might have what you need, or at least you can get a part number and you might be able to track down the seal that way. (If you haven’t already)

            • Jackson on 08/02/2021 - 17:53

              @mapax: mate that site is great, I found the part number, just have to find someone to sell it to me now :-) It's this: 1132974080

              https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/genuine/unit?c=Toyota&ssd=%2…

              Not sure if that will come through

              • mapax on 08/02/2021 - 18:18

                @Jackson: Yeah they’re pretty good for getting part numbers, much better than spending an hour on the phone trying to convince the dealership that your vin is correct and your car exists.

                I haven’t ordered from partsouq before, but friends have, and aside from shipping being relatively expensive and slow they didn’t have any issues. Although that was a few years ago now.

                • Jackson on 08/02/2021 - 18:39

                  @mapax: I can't find the part on sparesbox, ebay, sca or repco. You got any other ideas for places to try? I don't really want to wait for something to come from overseas

                  • mapax on 08/02/2021 - 19:39
                    +1

                    @Jackson: Sorry, I can’t help with local places.
                    You’ll have to jump on the phone tomorrow and start making some calls. Try Bursons, Toyota, and it might worth calling Repco as sometimes they have parts that aren’t listed on their website.
                    Workshops that specialise in Toyota’s might also sell spares. When I was looking for an IAC seal one of my mates put me onto a boat shop that stocked the same part but for a different application.

  • mapax on 08/02/2021 - 15:54

    Had similar happen on a farm vehicle, it self clearanced after a few months. Probably not ideal for a street vehicle though.

    • Jackson on 08/02/2021 - 15:55

      Yeah, especially when the person who drives it didn't want you to do the job in the first place :-)

      Was the cover plastic on your vehicle?

      • mapax on 08/02/2021 - 15:56
        +1

        Yeah it was plastic, the pully just wore a groove into it. It was one of those things that was going to be fixed properly but other stuff kept taking priority and one day it had fixed itself.

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