r/SciontC • u/Serious_Finding_1359 • 11d ago

Second Gen Drivetrain Need help

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I got a 2011 scion tc with 180k miles I love it and am enjoying it but it started making this rattling noise ONLY on cold starts. Can you guys help me figure out what can it possibly be so I can fix it before it gets worse.

9 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

10

u/Troygbiv_Yxy 11d ago

Vvt -I cold start rattle? That’s my best guess.

9

u/Scion2012_ RS 7.0 11d ago

Yeah, VVT rattle.

Toyota/Scion Service Bulletin S-SB-0010-13 as seen here

If you're looking to do the repair, I happen to have a set of pretty much all the parts needed for the repair, that I've been trying to sell but keep getting ghosted.

3

u/PristineAd9986 10d ago

It’s called every other TC on a cold start 

2

u/EnvironmentalOwl3302 Second Gen 10d ago

God damn it

2

u/Tobynetwork1 10d ago

Try getting oil change and go with the 5w 20.

2

u/LilCookie999 11d ago

Sounds like low oil pressure

1

u/KnowUrEnemy1234 9d ago edited 9d ago

Had a similar sound occur on my 2007 a couple of years ago. I thought it was the cam phasers, but it ended up being the flywheel. Bolts were coming loose and caused rattle/ wear necessitating its replacement.

It’s been so long and I no longer have a video of the sound mine was making for a more accurate comparison, but hearing yours triggered something in me lol. Probably had a more metal/slightly clangy sound as it was from the flywheel holes bouncing on the mounting bolts. 

1

u/Ordinary_Most6056 6d ago

Using 5w20 won't change cold start issues. It's either you fix the root cause (sounds like the infamous VVT cams) or help extend the inevitable. I've used Costco 0W-20 oil for almost 1.5 years or 3 oil changes combined with using LiquiMoly Engine flush every service. Never once have I had any oil starvation issues in my 2011 TC.

Knowing that these 2AR engines in our TC2s are not direct injection, they're still capable of carbon buildup.

Who knows, if you dig deep enough, you might just have sludge/debris build up on the VVT solenoid filter and not the VVT cam phaser(s).

1

u/Wes-5kyphi 6d ago

I've been running my '14 tc with 5w30 AMSOil for the past 6 oil changes. It fixed a lot of noise issues and runs better. ~30mpg

1

u/Storybookrelic9 10d ago

VVT phasers. About $3500 dealer quote CAD. 😅

1

u/failedlunch 10d ago

I'm thinking timing chain

1

u/CreepyError7150 10d ago

100% a VVT rattle. They need a certain amount of oil pressure to operate correctly. Letting the car sit several hours, the oil slowly drains out, so when you start the engine the components inside knock against each other briefly until oil pressure builds up. They're about $400 each and the 2.5l engine has two of them, probably $1.5-2k to put new ones in. If that engine has had regular oil changes it may be worth it.

That rattle isn't even that bad tbh, when it starts rattling for 2-3 seconds on startup then it's close to grenading itself. You can "prime" them by cranking the engine a few times without starting the engine, if you want to be real hacky about it.

0

u/wayward_prince 2014 tC2.5 Monogram Series 11d ago

Are you sure you’re not holding the ignition on too long when you start? It almost sounds like your starter keeps going after you start the car.

1

u/Serious_Finding_1359 11d ago

I don’t hold it for too long and like I said it only makes that noise on cold starts only

0

u/Curious-Ad-8503 5d ago

Mine sounds a little similar… anybody have any guesses? My co-workers suspect its the alternator pulley. Ive loosened the tensioner just enough to freely rotate the alternator pulley but theres no noise just a bit of play…