SOLVED: Is this 2013 Scion FRS Engine Knocking/Tapping normal?

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by BRZnut

I agree. If you boost your ride and it blows , you should be man enough to fix it yourself and not try to scam your local dealer.


I just wish we could get a handle at what causes the oil starvation issues on non-modified cars. Are they a little low on oil? over due for an oil change? Always run at 6,000 RPM?


I am all about doing all I can to prevent an issue, but other than changing my oil with a good synthetic every 5000-7500 miles and not constantly driving like I stole it, not sure what else can be done.

I drive this car hard every day after it's warm. Moving forward after warranty if the car does indeed have an issue, I'll just replace the car or foot the bill.

I'm also on the GTR Forums and someone posted about not daily driving their GTR.

Not sure about everyone else...but I boight my GTR to use it. As far as im concerned...its not a collectors piece..it will not appreciate if I keep it hidden away in my garage. That said...I have a construction company, so my default vehicle is a heavy duty pickup. But if im not workin or haulin something..im in my car...period. I did not spend this much money on a vehicle to watch some mustang or viper blow by my on the street while im driving in my $ saver. Im sorry and not meening to knock your theory..as it makes a lot of sense. BUT...does using common sense really get anyone into a GTR?? Id say no...common sense gets me only the little eco car. The depriciation will happen regardless on your GTR...id rather lose the money driving it than lose the money wishing every day that I was driving it. IMO

To relate this to the FRS...I didn't buy a sports car and drive it like an economy car and not have fun with it

[Tt3Sheppard]

This whole thread has me worried, I think I hear this noise upon initial start up on the passenger side. Seems to go away after some driving though.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Tt3Sheppard

This whole thread has me worried, I think I hear this noise upon initial start up on the passenger side. Seems to go away after some driving though.

Don't worry until it doesn't go away! These cars make some weird noises when all is perfect.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Tt3Sheppard

This whole thread has me worried, I think I hear this noise upon initial start up on the passenger side. Seems to go away after some driving though.

Subie boxers are notorious for cold piston slap. I'm just waiting for it to start with mine. I'm told it's nothing to worry about unless, like Tcoat says, it doesn't go away.

[Tt3Sheppard]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Subie boxers are notorious for cold piston slap. I'm just waiting for it to start with mine. I'm told it's nothing to worry about as long as, like Tcoat says, it doesn't go away.

Somewhat of a sigh of relief over here.

[Itzed]

I lived with cold engine piston slap on my last Subie for over 200K with no issues. However, the sounds I've been hearing out of this boxer (my fourth boxer BTW), are not piston slap and only happens when the engine is warmed up. But there are only 9K on the car, and it still performs well, and the noise is not consistently there (except for the crickets). So I'm not freaking out just yet. Time will tell, but this engine does make some odd and unnerving sounds.

[RedEdTed]

The car is back to the Toyota today! fingers crossed it wont be there for too long...
I had the car warmed up just enough, I was only able to replicate the sound by revving the engine in neutral up to 2000rpm's and letting it drop down to idle then the ticking/knocking/tapping noise would fading in an out a few times, not as clearly or loud as I have herd but enough for them to get a listen.
The noise stops when you start accelerating and is only there when in idle!
IF I drove the car for another 5/10 minutes it would have been more consistent and louder.
Can hear this noise from inside the vehicle.
Will keep you posted with results

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by RedEdTed

The car is back to the Toyota today! fingers crossed it wont be there for too long...
I had the car warmed up just enough, I was only able to replicate the sound by revving the engine in neutral up to 2000rpm's and letting it drop down to idle then the ticking/knocking/tapping noise would fading in an out a few times, not as clearly or loud as I have herd but enough for them to get a listen.
The noise stops when you start accelerating and is only there when in idle!
IF I drove the car for another 5/10 minutes it would have been more consistent and louder.
Can hear this noise from inside the vehicle.
Will keep you posted with results

You described what I encountered to the T.

[nyfries]

Our motor does makes some nerve wrecking sounds sometimes. I have a 24 year old 340k km civic that makes less sound than my frs lol

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by RedEdTed

The car is back to the Toyota today! fingers crossed it wont be there for too long...
I had the car warmed up just enough, I was only able to replicate the sound by revving the engine in neutral up to 2000rpm's and letting it drop down to idle then the ticking/knocking/tapping noise would fading in an out a few times, not as clearly or loud as I have herd but enough for them to get a listen.
The noise stops when you start accelerating and is only there when in idle!
IF I drove the car for another 5/10 minutes it would have been more consistent and louder.
Can hear this noise from inside the vehicle.
Will keep you posted with results

Oh! I think you're just describing the direct injectors when the engine is fully warmed up. They ease in when the engine stabilizes at idle to run a sub-stoichiometric mixture to minimize emissions. I love that sound.

[Itzed]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Oh! I think you're just describing the direct injectors when the engine is fully warmed up. They ease in when the engine stabilizes at idle to run a sub-stoichiometric mixture to minimize emissions. I love that sound.

This is my current theory also. That's why I haven't rushed off to the dealer yet.

[RedEdTed]

Originally Posted by N1rve

You described what I encountered to the T.

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Oh! I think you're just describing the direct injectors when the engine is fully warmed up. They ease in when the engine stabilizes at idle to run a sub-stoichiometric mixture to minimize emissions. I love that sound.

Originally Posted by Itzed

This is my current theory also. That's why I haven't rushed off to the dealer yet.

Yeah true, I would like to say it sounds normal.. I agree the engine is pretty loud itself but this noise is unbearable when you hear it!!

My car is louder than stock with aftermarket exhaust and intake (only) so when this "tap Tap TAp TAP TAP TAP tAP tAP taP taP taP tap tap..." begins and you look around as if people are going to be thinking "what is wrong with that car?"
lol, when it gets going it sounds serious.. not as bad as when the big bearing went in my old car though.. that was scary.

Update: I got the car back from Toyota, they talked to there technical office and they suggested to replace the vacuum pump as that is the loudest noise they could hear. So I have the car until the part arrives and they will install it.
The representative I was talking to was nice enough to give a heads up and let me know that with complicated issues like this they are under directions from there technical department. We may or may not fix the problem right away and may take a few visits to get to the rout cause.
As I expected, I'm ok with that, we will get it eventually.

I took it to a mate's place last night for him to have a listen, he's one of those Honda guys that put a CRV engine in his civic, bit more mechanically experienced than myself.
Took a while to get the noise going this time, probably because the weather is now above 0degC compared to -20deg a few weeks ago and I just got the fluids /oil done.
Best results of replicating the noise were in Park/ neutral/ idle and tapping the accelerator just a second, getting revs up to 1000-2000 max and as the engine revved up and changed back down in to neutral the knocking/tapping noise faded in and out within a few seconds. very inconsistently and after the 10th time it started to do it on its own without tapping the accelerator.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by RedEdTed

Yeah true, I would like to say it sounds normal.. I agree the engine is pretty loud itself but this noise is unbearable when you hear it!!

Hmmm... I'm invested. Please keep us posted as you progress. Thanks.

[AVodka14]

I am experiencing the exact 'tap' and 'knock' at idle. It is slowly getting worse. I will get a video once it stops storming here. Taking it to the dealer this week. This is certainly not a normal noise.