'97 Toyota RAV 4 automatic, 118,000kms
for several months, while idling at stops, a “rumbly-rattling” noise sounds like it’s coming from under the hood on the passenger side [near brand new battery]
totally cleaned out everything physical inside car that could be making the noise; checked the body, undercarriage, etc… found nothing & no improvement
have been out with our mechanic twice for him to hear the noise but it never happened when he was listening even going through a tunnel for acoustic echo
random occasional occurrence which doesn’t always happen while idling – but will mysteriously reoccur without any apparent difference in conditions, such as on the level, or declining/ascending slope, incline, pitch; (seniors)we never suddenly brake while driving too fast; nor neglect regular maintenance schedule
now, late one cold night, as always in 2nd gear to climb our steep S-curves hill, returning into indoor garage, just as I slowed down & stopped to carefully turn into our tight cement column defined parking space: without any warning suddenly there was no gas response when I softly accelerated to gently get past the column – the “check transmission” light was lit up – after turning the ignition OFF – waited a minute & successfully restarted the car to finish parking – the next morning everything was fine, but I could still hear the same noise and when searching online – learnt about expensive ECU problems that much newer more recent & different models of Toyotas have been having, including computer recalibration mistakes which destroyed their transmissions – $$$$$$$$$
if anyone else has this wonderful “truck” and enjoys it and cares for it as much as we do – and hopefully like us has had nothing major ever go wrong – BUT has had a similar idling rattle which you identified and were able to correct – please share with us your experience with as much detail as you care to provide
thanking you all in anticipation
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