Strange rattle under acceleration. please help!

I'm new to the forum as I have just purchased a 2002 Tacoma ext cab 4x4 v6 5 speed. I love it!! The only thing that is concerning me is that I am hearing a strange rattling noise under acceleration, mainly in either 3rd or 4th gear and between 1500 and 2200 rpm. any one have any ideas? I appreciate it!!

 

this probably isn't your problem, but my truck will rattle randomly at certain speeds because my tailgate chain bangs around. be easy thing to check and rule out

 

spark knock?

 

I had an issue like that. Does your noise go away when You let off the gas and coast? What I did was grease my drive shaft and it's gone. It was the telescoping section of the rear drive shaft

 

Rattle or vibration?--In the engine bay or underfoot?

 

Check exhaust supports.. sometimes rattles can come from there

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'm still trying to get used to this thing so sorry for the delayed response. I did check the exhaust mounts and from what i could tell there was no problems there. The noise does go away when i let off the accelerator but I have also recently greased the drive line. I will hit it again when I get a chance just to be sure. I wouldn't think it could be spark knock since I'm not supercharged and I have no CEL on. maybe I should try running a higher octane just to be sure? I can't really feel the vibration in the peddles or anything I only hear it. What really gets me is it's only happening between 1500 and about 2200. If it was something mechanical I would think it would happen throughout the rev range. I really appreciate the help!!

-Matt

 

strange think about my issue is that it only there at low rpm's and most apparent in 3rd and 4th gear. no issues at highway speed...

- Matt

 

my truck just started doing this. At first I thought I had solved it because the clamp on the pipe right near the oil filter had once again slipped off. I once again put it back and tighten as much as I could and the next day it was vibration free. Then the day after it was back. Just looked to see if the clamp had come off but nope it's still on. so now, I'm not sure if this is it or not? may just removed the bracket and clamp all together too see what this does.

 

I haven't checked anything up at the front of the truck because I'm fairly sure it's not coming from up there. Yesterday I re-greased the drive line but the noise is still there. I hate not being able to figure something out like this so it's really starting to bother me! lol

 

Just a thought... try a higher octane gas and see if it helps.

 

Maybe heat shield around CAT or exhaust, or loose skidpan, just gotta get underneath & start shaking things. when offroading I've gotten rocks stuck in between skidpan & motor with lots of intermitant noise...

 

is it just the tacoma tick noise? my 96 does the same thing, but in the lower gears too. its only when pressing on the gas while in drive, it does not do it when reving in neutral or when using engine braking. everyone says its not a problem, even the owners manual. so im not worrying about it

 

Anyone find an answer to this?

 

I second that it may just be the infamous Tacoma tick.. My truck does it too and low RPM's and then purrs like a kitten at higher RPM's.. Im an automatic not a manual though..

 

greese the drive shaft & u joints had that same noise went away after i replaced the drive shaft

 

It could be a bad ujoint you can't really chase a sound while ur moving anyways. They generally start out as a rattle when you let off the gas go away when your on the gas. Usually they progress to you get a clunk when you switch from forward to reverse without stopping or vice versa. Get under the truck and grab the drive shaft ( drive line in neutral) if it has any wiggle in it if there is and movement its a ujoint. Move it side to side. up and down next to each joint.

 

Hate to revive an old threat, hit just to follow up on this issue... While I was experiencing this I had a really cheap eBay clutch in the truck. Now that I've installed a full Aisin set up from trailgear the noise is gone. I guess it could have been the crappy plastic spring retainers on the cheap clutch plate rattling around in there and causing the noise. Anyways, there ya have it...