Winding noise while accelerating

Hey guys!

I have a '03 Tacoma 2.7L MT 4WD (199K), and over the weekend I noticed that my truck was making a winding noise that I didn't really recognize before. I was driving home from fishing over the weekend and noticed the noise. I noticed it while in 3rd and 4th gear, but now when I drive its only really in 1st that I notice it.

I noticed that while accelerating or downshifting that there would be a winding noise. At first, I thought that it was something with the transmission however I observed the same noise when in neutral so I started to think that it might be something under the hood. In a way it reminded me of the noise the truck makes when in reverse.

Truck has no warning lights on, no codes (I doubt any of the issues this could be would even throw a code), no loss in power, no issues shifting gears up or down. Overall normal operation aside from the louder noise.

Obviously it would be tough for anyone to truly diagnose something over the internet, but I figured it was worth a shot to see what others thought. I've had the belts replaced, the clutch has probably 50K on it at this point as well, so I was thinking maybe a pulley or pump?

I saw a similar thread on here, but that particular truck was an automatic transmission and it ended up being the transmission pump. Also have seen PS pumps being a culprit but I don't think my noise is similar.

Pressing down accelerator while in neutral:
https://youtube.com/shorts/gmDNKM04-Tk?feature=share

Driving shifting between 1st and 2nd gear:
https://youtu.be/PhVpbT6IJHs


Anyways, wanted to see if anyone could provide insight. Also entirely possible that I am psyching myself into thinking there's something wrong.

Thanks,
Tom

 

Top off your power steering. Fun fact our trucks don’t use conventional power steering rather they use ATF DEX III.

 

front wheel bearings??

take another test drive and swerve back and forth
if the noise is more pronounced on the side that weight transfers too.....your on to something
(so if you swerve R the L wheel bearing will have more weight transferred to it.....opo if you swerve L)

IF you hear this
jack that corner of truck up and put your hands on tire at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock and see if any play present
GL
keep everyone posted

 

Wondering if you were able to figure out the issue? My 01 Taco is doing the exact same thing.

 

I have not yet. I am fairly certain its one of the pulleys on the front drivers side of the truck, specifically the idler.

 

Thanks for replying. I must have gotten lucky because my truck was doing the same noise for like a week. I checked the p/s fluid and it was super low. Topped it off but noise continued for like 2-3 days. Then noticed coolant was a bit low too bu not drastically so topped that off. Made a trip to LA and during trip noise stopped and hasn’t come back.

 

PS pump was my first guess for mine, but the noise doesn't occur when I turn so I ruled it out. I've read that the screen inside the reservoir can get clogged with debris.

I plan on taking my truck into get looked at soonish, I just haven't had the time to look into it myself.


UPDATE:

Ended up taking the truck to shop since I haven't had the time to fix on my own.

Bad idler pulley was the diagnosis. Shop is replacing that along with the belt.