WTF is this new noise my 3.4L is making.

Check the video. Just happened yesterday motor making a new noise. It is super cold here in Colorado for the last week not sure if that caused the problem but it was warmer today and noise is still happening. All fluid levels seem fine. Not sure what this is. I had the Timing belt done at 110000 and its at 160000 now. 2002 4x4. Noise increases as engine rpm does. Not even sure if there is just one strange noise of if there are 2 separate strange noises.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB-gAOUYA5k&feature=youtu.be

 

Bad pulley,idler or alt. Remove each belt one by one and see if the noise goes away. If you have all belts off and noise is still there it's a pulley the timing belt rides on.

 

Id have to agree with wht95scort too... typically when your noise increases with the rpm its a fairly safe bet to start with belts and pullies or anything that spins under the hood thats driven by the engine.

 

Dang. Im in Denver and dont really have a place to work on it or tools. Im in an apt. Can a problem like this go unfixed for maybe 8000 more miles? Or does it cause catastrophic failure.

 

Get it fixed. Dont want the pully or belt to break or you will be stuck somewhere

 

Depending what it is theres a damn good chance youll be dead in the water if it breaks...ya know like the alternator is a necessity fur example.

 

I wouldn't recommend pushing it when you know it's not operating properly, and as said, will leave you stranded shit out of luck at a random time. Tow fees will kill ya then. Take it to a trusty mechanic if you aren't able to do it.

 

hows the power steering fluid

 

sounds like an idler pulley, replace the power steering fluid if you never have with DEX3 ATF

 

Water Pump

 

PS fluid is full, but it looks a little dark..

 

wouldnyt hurt to change it, less than $10 go to Walmart get a quart of ATF DEX3-4 a turkey baster suck out the old stuff replace with new juice,when was the last time your timing belt was replaced cause they usually replace the water pump too might be the water pump like the other guy says especially if it starts to weep out coolant

 

I did all the belts at 110000 and im at 160000 now. Im pretty sure i did the water-pump but it wasn't an original Toyota part... Also i dont see much evidence of coolant leaking. I do notice i need to top off coolant every 6 months though with a few inches in the resivior.

 

It can be very hard to see a weeping water pump sometimes especially on the 3.4. It can just evaporate or just not be obviously dripping and still be near death...the coolant is going somewhere andits never a good place..

 

What they said ^^^^^^ idler bearing, alt bearing etc.

 

Yeah i figured it was going into the exhaust

 

whats the easiest one to change.

 

Water pump bearing can go bad without an apparent leak, and makes a lot of noise. My echo did this 4 months ago. It could be something else.
I would check first the WP, and go from there.

 

A/c idler is easy once you have the skid plate off. Use a long screw driver and listen to the alternator and idler pulley.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDJoKIoSd-w that video shows how to use a screw driver as a listening device.