Help with Celica rattlie issue

[ZR1996]

Hi Guys

Just bought a 1996 Toyota Celica ZR Manual with only 135,000kms and great condition. However, after I drove it nearly 1500kms from Sydney to Adelaide and started stopping at red lights and idling in neutral, I noticed a bit of a rattle for 15 secs before going away without touching anything. Now a few days later, it does it occassionally, but when it does it, it can only be silenced when you step down on the clutch, even when you step off the clutch, the sound usually goes away and still idling in neutral. I took it to a clutch specialist who said its not a clutch issue but most likely a lose bearing in the gear box. He said if your lucky it could just be low on transmission fluid, but its hard for me to check as no dispstick. He said either way, it's not going to cause any problems apart from noise, atleast for now...Has anyone had this problem or knows how to diagnose or fix it? I am in Adelaide if there is anyone available to check out the car...Cheers Andy

[lostdelirium]

Hi Guys

Just bought a 1996 Toyota Celica ZR Manual with only 135,000kms and great condition. However, after I drove it nearly 1500kms from Sydney to Adelaide and started stopping at red lights and idling in neutral, I noticed a bit of a rattle for 15 secs before going away without touching anything. Now a few days later, it does it occassionally, but when it does it, it can only be silenced when you step down on the clutch, even when you step off the clutch, the sound usually goes away and still idling in neutral. I took it to a clutch specialist who said its not a clutch issue but most likely a lose bearing in the gear box. He said if your lucky it could just be low on transmission fluid, but its hard for me to check as no dispstick. He said either way, it's not going to cause any problems apart from noise, atleast for now...Has anyone had this problem or knows how to diagnose or fix it? I am in Adelaide if there is anyone available to check out the car...Cheers Andy

Hey Andy,

I could be WAY off this this guess, but are you 100% sure you're getting the rattling from the gearbox?

I get an awful rattle in the engine bay of my 1998 Celica when she starts up cold which actually comes from the timing belt.

Maybe duck your head around inside your engine bay to double check?

Also, I believe these model Celica can be prone to some top end engine rattling due to low oil pressure.

Something to keep in mind too.

I'm in Adelaide too btw.

Hope that helps.

[ZR1996]

Hi Guys

Just bought a 1996 Toyota Celica ZR Manual with only 135,000kms and great condition. However, after I drove it nearly 1500kms from Sydney to Adelaide and started stopping at red lights and idling in neutral, I noticed a bit of a rattle for 15 secs before going away without touching anything. Now a few days later, it does it occassionally, but when it does it, it can only be silenced when you step down on the clutch, even when you step off the clutch, the sound usually goes away and still idling in neutral. I took it to a clutch specialist who said its not a clutch issue but most likely a lose bearing in the gear box. He said if your lucky it could just be low on transmission fluid, but its hard for me to check as no dispstick. He said either way, it's not going to cause any problems apart from noise, atleast for now...Has anyone had this problem or knows how to diagnose or fix it? I am in Adelaide if there is anyone available to check out the car...Cheers Andy

Hey Andy,

I could be WAY off this this guess, but are you 100% sure you're getting the rattling from the gearbox?

I get an awful rattle in the engine bay of my 1998 Celica when she starts up cold which actually comes from the timing belt.

Maybe duck your head around inside your engine bay to double check?

Also, I believe these model Celica can be prone to some top end engine rattling due to low oil pressure.

Something to keep in mind too.

I'm in Adelaide too btw.

Hope that helps.

Hi Timothy

Yeah I think you might be right, It sounded pretty loud this morning when I started her up and I though it was the engine warming up but after it reached half-way it was still loud and I depressed the clutch and the engine was quiet so maybe it is the belt...but its not a squeeking sound the belt faults usually make, its a rattle like a lose bearing...I have a service due in 2k with Toyota and ill get there thoughts on it and ask them to check transmission fluid before I take it further. If it is the belt what do you recommend to try fix it apart from replacement? Is it true you can run candle wax or something on it and smooth it out?

[lostdelirium]

Hi Timothy

Yeah I think you might be right, It sounded pretty loud this morning when I started her up and I though it was the engine warming up but after it reached half-way it was still loud and I depressed the clutch and the engine was quiet so maybe it is the belt...but its not a squeeking sound the belt faults usually make, its a rattle like a lose bearing...I have a service due in 2k with Toyota and ill get there thoughts on it and ask them to check transmission fluid before I take it further. If it is the belt what do you recommend to try fix it apart from replacement? Is it true you can run candle wax or something on it and smooth it out?

Not 100% sure about the candle wax myth.

But nah, the rattle I get is like rolling a marble around a milo tin.

As I said, pop the bonnet next time you start it and just listen to where the sound is coming from.

Don't put your fingers into belts though.

[ZR1996]

Hey buddy, sound is coming from red circle area of the pic (which is not my actual engine but where the hand imprint is loacted stating too hot dont touch) in front of the engine, assuming thats the transmission area, is that right?

[ZR1996]

Hey buddy, sound is coming from red circle area of the pic (which is not my actual engine but where the hand imprint is loacted stating too hot dont touch) in front of the engine, assuming thats the transmission area, is that right?

Actually, I was wrong, now that its dark and quiet outside and it was getting louder, I figured out its not in the engine bay at all but right under the gear shift beneath the car, as it can only be heard in the car, even if you put your head under the car from the drivers side its not as loud so my best guess the sound is in the middle of the visible gear stick and the chassis so who knows what it is...the car has been driven for most of its life in 1st, 2nd and third city driving and my friend said it may have affected the gear shaft in someway..