After only 500 miles. Knocking coming from drivers side

its probably been covered here,yes I did a search,and never found any answers. Driving back from a short trip Saturday,my truck suddenly started making a rythmic knock from what sounded like the drivers side front. I couldn’t pull over right away ,so after a couple of miles ,it did go away,but I can’t imagine any serious issues on a 500 mile truck. It’s an OR. Any help would be appreciated. It definitely sounded like it was in the driveline as it got faster when I accelerated

 

At times the 3.5 liter sounds like a diesel engine. That's normal. The injectors have a cleaning cycle that is rather loud at times. However if it is more than a loud ticking noise I would cease operation and call your dealer. While I won't say the 3.5 is an example of Toyotas typical bombproof engines, it is a proven, reliable, and durable engine (although it has it's quirks). A video if you can post one would be great.

 

idk, maybe something was stuck on your tires thread? and freed itself after a few miles

 

The sound was quite a bit heaverier than that. Almost like a cv joint. But it did go away.

 

CV joints don't heal themselves. The injector cleaning cycle won't kick in at highway speeds. It could be a number of things, but just for shits and grins look at the roof of your truck, is one of the roof moldings loose or missing? Pretty common for them to come loose especially if you run thru automatic car washes.

 

Yes, the injector cleaning cycle only occurs at low idle. That said "ticking, tapping, knocking, and clatter" are very common complaints in reference to the 3.5 v6. This noise occurs not only at idle but through out the majority of the RPM range. Most of the noise can be traced back to the injectors and high pressure fuel pump. Both of which seem to be rather noisier than average. Hence my "sounds like a diesel" comment. Drive under a bridge with the windows rolled down ( or similar conditions where an echo can occur) and you can hear the clatter. I'm surprised the OP could not find anything during a search as this forum and others has many threads on this sort of noise.

 

I’ll call the local service dept,and take it in. But it’s like going to the dentist. It hurts until you get there. It’ll be practically impossible to diagnose unless it does it while it’s there. I’ll keep you guys posted. Thanks

 

Did you try opening the door?

 

No,I was in the middle lane of 6. Traffic was insane,when it started. It sounded like a metal to metal situation,almost the cv joint had 2 million miles on it. When I sped up ,so did the knocking,finally ,after a couple of miles,I got to the point where I could pull over,and inspected all I could on the side of the highway. I didn’t see any marks,or wear places,so I got back in it ,and pulled away,it started again,but after a mile or so,it went away,and I finished the drive home( probably another 75 miles). I took it out yesterday to the gas station to fill it up ,I drove it maybe 5 lies or so,all was quiet. Stay tuned

 

Doesn't sound like anything thats normal to me. I've never heard any unusual knocking noises from my 3.5 when that new. Yes, the direct fuel injection is a bit noisy at times compared to other fuel injection systems, but i've not heard any dull type knocking.

 

Ugh. This is not what I wanted to hear as I'm seriously considering picking up a Tacoma. After having a 3rd gen (V6) and 4th gen (V8) 4Runner, I moved over to a 2011 Limited. After having the car for about a month, I started hearing a diesel sound while sitting at idle with the car in drive or at low speeds. While faint, I still became fixated on the noise and it drove me nuts! Duh..Duh..Duh...Duh sound. I took it to Toyota several times and was told is was normal as you said. So after less than a year, the redesigned 2014's came out and I dumped the 2011 for a brand new Trail Premium with KDSS and everything. Test drove it and didn't hear the noise. After having the car a few weeks, I started hearing the noise again. Traded it in on a JKU Rubicon Hardrock a few months later after changing jobs and not needing a daily driver SUV anymore.

If the Taco engine sounds like the 4Runner one, guess I may have to cross it off my list. It probably doesn't bother most folks but somehow I could always hear it even with the radio on and it literally annoyed the hell out of me. Better take several test drives to see if I hear it before taking the plunge.

 

Tacoma engines sound like a sewing machine from day one.

 

Also possible you just picked something up from the road and it came out after a bit. Could have been a rock or piece of something else, even a screw or nail that stuck for a bit but came loose. You won't hear any of the injector stuff at highway speeds

 

As

As far as hearing those type noises even with the radio on, engine's been never that loud that i can hear them. The engine/exhaust tone does get pretty loud when revving over 2500 rpm's up grades.

 

It was a really weird issue. The sound was not very loud but was very noticeable inside the car. Would only happen at idle in drive and would go away once the RPM's climbed. After both 4Runners made the exact same noise, it's clearly a normal characteristic of the Toyota engines as others have said. All other Toyota/Lexus cars I have/had are V8's with the exception of my MKIV TT Supra which is a V6 but the noise that makes doesn't annoy me.

 

Check all your lug nuts.

 

Um, maybe a dumb question, but you aren't driving around on pavement with 4WD switched on, are you?

 

+1 on this, these roof moldings slapping when loose make really loud and confusing sounds. Like a very loud knocking noise that you will hear over radio and it comes and goes depending on the crosswind direction, so it could explain your inconsistency of happening. Check them, it's a 5 second thing (step on running board and look at the black trim on top of roof, if it's loose you'll notice).

It happened to me while on a trip across the country from Nashville to Vermont and I was convinced it was coming from drivers side front, even causing me to pull over in the median of the freeway and crawl under my drivers side to try and figure out what was going on. But I eventually figured out it was the driver's side top roof molding coming loose and slapping in crosswind. FYI I never used an automatic car wash, and I have a 2019 OR.

Good luck!

 

The inner splash guard on my drivers side comes loose all the time, and at highway speeds knocks the inner fender wall, it’s rhythm also increases and decreases depending on speed, and can be heard when the radios is at a comfortable volume too.

 

This isn't a Toyota issue, it's a what all new engines do. Go to a Honda dealer and listen to the racket A ridgeline or pilot make. Cleaning cycles are the norm nowadays.