Clacking Rattling Noise When Accelerating and Slowing Down

Hello, brand new to these forums. I already browsed the inter web and other forums about my problem so have some idea. I am creating this new thread to have a more current discussion and (Hopefully) solution to this problem that someone can find quickly.
Recently got to 90k miles, flushed and filled transmission, brake, rear differential, steering fluids. Oil change, cabin air filter, cleaned K & N Air filter and replaced spark plugs. Running like a dream for about a month. Yesterday after a normal drive coming down a hill to park at the beach I heard a light metallic rattling, like small metal in an aluminum can. When I parked, i opened the hood and listened while a person revved the engine in neutral and in drive while holding brakes, engine sounded great, idled great, went surfing.
Leaving the parking parking lot rattle got louder as I initially accelerated, then as I turned up the parking lot hill truck lost power, kept moving but rough and and vibrating engine. Pulled over and checked engine in park, neutral and drive holding brakes, no noise, sounds normal, no engine check light. Try to move uphill, same thing. Anyways, drove home rough through initial acceleration, I have an automatic, around 3d gear was OK but felt a buit underpowered like air wasn't getting to it or something. Got home, checked the plugs, all were still tightened to 14lb by a torque wrench, gaps were good.
This morning drove better, no power loss or starvation like issues during acceleration, but a clacking during acceleration and now deceleration. I am trying to make an appointment with dealership as I have not done the exhaust catalytic converter recall yet. from what I have read the most likely culprit it that or the U joints, or could be both. My truck is already pretty rusty underneath. Anyways, if others are having this strange problem I hope to find the answer and post it. Can't get in for a check for another week though.

 

Are there any codes? Read them with a ScanGauge/UltraGauge/OBD II device from the car parts store.

Did you leave a paper towel or shop rag in the intake when you cleaned the engine air filter?

Have you crawled around underneath to see if any exhaust hangers have rusted off, exhaust is cracked/broken, suspension components broken, etc?

 

No light, haven't checked for codes, you did remind me to look for the rag I covered the intake with when I double checked the plugs... Did find the flap in the front left wheel wheel had a plastic securing thing off, I removed the whole thing, but still hearing the noises. Driving better now, makes cricking noises coming to a stop and accelerating when warm, no longer the pebbles in a tin can noise. Now getting a vibration from rear on low RPM powering up or slowing to a stop and sluggish on acceleration, but nothing like the original day that made it feel air starved. Will take over a month for dealership to get catalytic muffler replacement per their recall. So it may be a while to see if that is what may have failed the first time, I am wondering if could be the rear diff, as I just had the fluid lushed and changed, will looks for leaks, and may ask if I can take it back to the place and double check the levels... thanks for the suggestions.

 

Looked underneath just a once over, pretty rusty, leaf spring on left side very rusty as well as U joint. No noises anymore )which scares me a bit more) but definite vibrations during acceleration from the rear. Found this TR and got me thinking. i think the initial crackling sound that went away was the catalytic converter... no leaking fluid found around the rear diff and rear tires/rims... https://www.tacomahq.com/3392/toyota-tacoma-driveline-vibration-tsb-2005-2014/

 

I've got a rattling noise on deceleration only. Nothing loose underneath. I listened and thought differential, but when it rained last Friday the noise went away. I'm now suspecting center support bearing for the driveshaft or u joints. I don't think moisture would affect the cat, although at one point i was thinking that could be the culprit.

 

I had a hose clamp that would rattle alot when at idle. I never realized it, but in my case, I just had to bend the excess clamp away from the pipe. It was up towards the front on the exhaust.
Havent had coffee, so my English is off. Lol

 

Heat shields are noted for coming loose, rattling, then eventually falling off.

 

What @06 Taco said... They wear a hole right around the nut. Some 1/4x1" fender washers will sandwich the heat shield and stop the rattle.

Also, look at the air inlet snorkel to the filter housing. This rattles all the time if I don't twist the hose clockwise before tightening the clamp on the air box.

Good luck and welcome to TW.

 

I've banged on every heat shield and all along the exhaust under the car. All are tight. I agree with that bit about wearing a hole around the nut. Looked for signs of that, and found nothing. I'll check the air inlet snorkel, but this sounds like it's right underneath the driver area of the car. When I jacked up the rear end and ran it, I can definitely hear something from driveline, or diff, but I don't have a hoist so can't safely get under there to listen more.
I never hear this noise unless I'm decelerating. Sounds an awful lot like the heat shield, but coming from driveline somewhere.
Many thanks for the replies and ideas !!

 

At 90 kmiles has the driveline ever been serviced?

This sounds like the rear U-joint is about ready to die.

You don't have to jack up the truck. Slide under it, do a close visual inspection of the U-joint at the rear differential. Check for visual damage, try to turn the prop shaft by hand while watching the U-joint, any movement? While you're under there, check the Carrier Bearing for excessive play.

 

Thanks Knute, I'll give it a look today. I goofed up a little bit, as I didn't check for rust before greasing the thing. Now the ujoints are a bit greasy and tougher to see if I have rust leaking from any of the joint caps. I also tried wiggling the joints to see if I had any play. They seemed tight, but I'll roll under there and try wiggling a screwdriver up in the joint to make sure it's tight. Will absolutely check out that carrier bearing. Only thing that didn't get greased....oh, beside the ball on the cardan which didn't appear to have a zerk.
Thanks for the input.

 

oh, and driveline has been greased, but never had anything repaired/replaced on it.

 

@DanielPlainview My reply was primarily aimed at the OP.

If you have rust "...if I have rust leaking from any of the joint caps." coming from the U-joint caps. Don't bother with adding grease, its too late. They will need replacing.

 

Hi, did you every figure out where the noise was coming from?

My 4.0 V6 with 6 speed transmission recently developed a strange noise that sounds like its coming from the rear half of the truck while under load (accelerating or decelerating). If I am decelerating and put my foot on the clutch, the noise goes away.

The noise is a weird clatter/clacking sound... Sometimes I get a weird squeal, similar sound to when my uJoints needed to be replaced a few years ago. I suspect it may be the ujoints again.