Annoying rattling sound from engine?

I've search a lot of threads, but I still am not convinced that what I have is "It is the injectors cleaning carbon deposits". I hear this rattling or ticking sound all of the time, sometimes louder than others. Much like the sound a heat shield makes rattling against a catalytic converter. I have the radio turned up pretty loud and I can still hear it. And why would the carbon deposits need cleaning all of the time?
Does anyone know if this sound will get louder or will it go away? Do I have a different issue than carbon cleaning? I don't hear this in our Camry. It was noticed as soon as I drove it from the dealership. I went back the next day to complain and they had no answer. News to them. I just can't believe that after spending $35+, that a new engine could be so noisy.
Thanks in Advance.

 

if you can hear it with your radio on...you might have a problem......

 

What volume level

 

I only have 1200 miles on this SR5 V6 4x4 access cab. Has not been in for service, but did go in for this noise, tranny fluid level and bad shifting issues especially with cruise control. The service manager took it for a drive and intimated that it was something I will have to live with. Radio was set to volume 35-40

 

Post a video

 

I would take it in. My engine is quiet, significantly quieter than than my second gen was. (which IMO was a loud engine)

 

it'll be fine.

at least its not on fire after spending $200k

because, lambo.

 

I have an annoying rattle sound. Not sure if it's the same as yours. Here's a youtube video that someone posted with the exact sound I have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_R8IMR24-k

From the video and my experience described below, it sounds like it is coming from either the catalytic converter or the heat shield bolted to the cat.

Short description: I have had this rattle for at least 6 months. It is loud, metallic, and unfortunately (for diagnostic purposes) intermittent. I have seen someone describe it as sounding like shaking an empty bottle of spray paint and I would agree. My truck typically makes this noise when the engine is fairly cold (first 5 minutes of driving) and transmission is in drive or reverse. It is extremely noticeable at low speeds and stopped at lights. It doesn't make this noise in neutral or park which has made it difficult for me to diagnose because I can't get under it without someone else there to keep their foot on the break. This is not the GDI ticking noise that Toyota may suggest it is and it is clearly not any other within spec noise.

Current status: The rattle goes away when the heat shield on the catalytic converter is pressed firmly. That could mean the heat shield is loose, but it doesn't eliminate the possibility of something being loose inside the cat. I removed and reinstalled the heat shield yesterday (12/29/2016). No rocks were found, nothing felt loose. 12/30/2016 - Rattle has returned. I'm going to take it back to the dealership. Hopefully they can figure it out now that they've heard it and know it's coming from the cat/heat shield.

Long description: It took 3 trips to the dealership, but I finally got them to hear this yesterday (12/29/2016). They kept the truck overnight so it would be completely cool and started it several times that morning but called around noon to say they could not hear the rattle. I went to pick it up but before I left, I played the service writer the youtube video above and explained that it was the exact sound I was hearing. He offered to walk out to the truck and listen again before I left. Before I started the truck, I banged on the heat shield for the cat with my hand and I'm pretty sure I could hear something loose just from that. So I started it up and shifted around from drive to reverse a few times and in less than a minute it was rattling. I asked him to get a mechanic and a few minutes later, both the mechanic and service writer were listening to the rattle from hell. They had previously suggested I was hearing the GDI ticking and that it was nothing unusual. When they heard the actual rattle yesterday at the dealership, both admitted it wasn't normal. The mechanic crawled under and pushed on the heat shield for the catalytic converter and the noise stopped. They believe it could be a loose heat shield on the cat or a rock caught in the heat shield. They said that I could have them troubleshoot it, but that if it ended up being a rock, I'd be on the hook for a $95 diagnostic fee and labor for the time it took to remove the shield and put it back on.

I asked if I could take the heat shield off myself without causing warranty problems and the service writer said yes. So that was my project yesterday. 3 bolts, two brackets, and one clamp hold the heat shield to the cat. None of them seemed loose. No rocks, pebbles, etc. were found in the heat shield. I banged on the converter itself with my gloved hand but nothing sounded loose. I drove it around the neighborhood with the heat shield off and the truck seemed to run especially quiet (probably my imagination). I put the heat shield back on and did another quick drive around the neighborhood; no rattle on that test.

Latest: I just did another drive (12/30/2016) and the rattle is back. I'll update after I take it back to the dealership.

 

Well I can tell you that I did hear the same thing on mine for few months and took back and forth the dealer, they could never find anything. .. I took it upon myself to find the issue and realized it was coming from the engine air filter housing it does needs to be inserted correctly in the holes and then securely thigh . That fixed that issue for me , give it a try.

 

What do you want for 35 bucks?

 

It needs to clean carbon because of the direct injection.

As for the rattle; is your hood prop secured?

 

Saw that too.. LOL.. I didn't want to be first wise-ass..

 

In steps me.

 

According to Toyota.........that sound is the normal operating characteristics of the vehicle,and once again fuck you Toyota !!!!

 

I get this noise to, it sounds really bad when cold. I can literally press on Cat and stop the noise. I have taken a video hopefully Toyota will fix problem. I should not have to remove cat shield on a brand new truck.

 

Hondas are famous for having a heat shield rattle when they are cold. I wonder if the new Ridgeline has the some sound.

 

Mine sounds like a fucking diesel when it's idling.... I think it's mocking me because it knows that if i could have a HILUX it's days would be numbered!

 

Constant rattle or only with throttle tip in. My engine has a bit of a funny clatter right at throttle tip in from idle. I assume its throttle plates and cam phasers reacting quickly. Once warm, my engine is rather quiet. On cold start when the weather is 20°F or below, I hear a little mechanical noise (maybe a little piston slap?). None of the noises I have heard are annoying or worrisome.

 

Did you figure this out? I just got a rattle that started this morning and sounds pretty much the exact same as yours.

 

I think there was a TSB for a rattle. Don't remember what it was for though, I think it was for a vacuum pump that is just noisy.

TSB 0316-17