2001dxtn

I have a 2001DX with about 145k. Car has been solid for most of my time with it, but lately I've started to run into some problems...

Firstly, it started to develop a noise at startup. It seems to eminate from the lower right part of the motor, and sounds like "wub-wub-wub" -- kind of slosh almost. The sound diminishes as car warms up, but if you listen carefully, you can still hear it.

All maintenance has been good -- timing belt at 105k, tune-up at 125k.

So, I went out this weekend, and the noise seemed a little louder. As we made more stops, the car has a progressively harder time starting -- however, it would. Set out to go home, get on the interstate -- doing about 75-80 mph. All the sudden a CEL comes on, and the car loses basically all power -- really wouldn't accelerate. I was close to a ramp, so I coasted down, killed the car, and towed it back. I did disconnect the battery, so I lost the code.

So tonight, I come home, hook it up to OBD software, and nothing. Ran car for 20 (didn't drive as it was on trailer and it was dark so I couldn't really get it off), revved as far as it would go, got to operating temp -- no light.

Not sure what to think here -- going to drive it to work tomorrow, and see if I can get the light back, but otherwise -- any ideas?

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like you may have an alternator that's dying on you.

2001dxtn

So, I drove the car to work today (which was actually about 120 miles). No code at all.

So, the sound has probably gotten louder. I tried to use a hose to isolate it, and it seems to be coming from the top right corner of the exhaust manifold, or potentially, cylinder #1.

At startup and idle, the sound is wah-wah-wah-wah. Upon acceleration, it becomes almost helicopter like, and you could almost describe it as clicking.

The funny part: if you were deaf, you would think the car is absolutely perfect -- idle is strong, acceleration is seemingly fine, nothing rough at all about how it drives.

I'm sufficiently confused, but I guess I'm leaning exhaust manifold leak. Any other ideas? Going to try to pull the heat shield tomorrow, and maybe get a better look...

I uploaded a pic of the top corner of the mani -- are those carbon deposits normal??