hello scion lifers, been a long time fan first time poster. while driving recently, I heard a large pop or a snap from my engine bay. since then, at idle, starting, or turning the car off I hear a mechanical grind, coming from the passenger side engine bay. furthermore, when parking on inclines or declines I hear large portions of metal coming from my oil pan. i took it to my friends shop just for advice, and he did confirm that there was an unnatural engine noise. I took it to the Toyota service center and took a drive with a mechanic foreman and they attributed the noise to the catalytic converter rubbing into the heat shield from my after market exhaust. 135 later because it was an after market exhaust and the noise is still there. i guess that is why they coined the term grease monkey, the morons can't tell a exhaust noise from and internal noise. fyi next time you take your car to the service cent. put a oem toyota air and oil filter because they'll blame an electrical problem on it, or they'll blame a rough idle engine on you none oem seat covers.

 

i kinda had to trust my tech. they did a complete head replacement for me when i overrevved my engine a month or so ago. I havent had my car blow up yet, so i guess they did a good job.

 

there aren't many toyota "techs" anymore.. most are now just "part replacers"

now the statement you made is more generalized to a specific dealership.

mind stating which one? after that, we can move this thread to its proper place in the dealership experiences area.

 

shh they might be reading this!

 

yeah it all depends where you go. there are alot of dealers where im from and some are soo bad i wouldnt trust getting my oil change from them, but other dealers that i would drive the twenty minutes just for my car wash. sorry to hear what happend tho man.

 

could be Denso's VVT-i

 

Sounds like your timing chain is slacking and rubbing/grinding. What were you doing when you initially heard the pop/snap noise? Do you notice a change of power?

 

It really depend on the dealer you go to. Some dealerships are very serious about the techs they use, others just hire anybody that got fired from iffy lube. I find that smaller dealerships usually have pretty well trained techs.

 

well it does really depend on the dealership..but some small ones do the same stuff. I havent had any problem with Longo though. just giving them a thumbs up.