Wife's 2011 Rav4 2.5 had this rattle for about 3 years now and it would still have it if it wasn't for this video opening my eyes. Car starts up like it did brand new again. Thank you for this awesome video and please keep them coming! Love this channel!

Finally. I'm looking for this video already two years. Thank you AMD!

you sir are a good man, im just a 25 year old from australia , and ive learnt so much in 22 mins from your video about just , the heart of how a car operates , its amazing to see the detail and in depth look on how gears and oil plays a part - thank you - liked & subscribed

Great info AMD !! Much insight here as always. Thank you for your efforts helping us understand taking care of the car in the real world.

I'm liking the background and the table. the whole presentation seems so simple, yet so professional. you got the power, you got the flava.

Having noticed sludge at the main cam bearings in my 2003 Corolla, i carefully studied the VVTi and finally opened up the VVTi. The VVTi was full of sludge and the oil ports were literally clogged. Had to use several solvents to dissolve and clean the sludge. Use is made of universal socket wrench for the 5 headed bolts and torque wrench to fasten the bolts. Torquing the main bolt while keeping the lock-pin unlocked, was a little ticklish. Thanks to Toyota, the cam bearings were numbered and marked, without which i might have failed to reasseble the cam bearings properly as a DIYer. After purging the sludge from the VVTi, OCV and also from all the oil galleries, the Engine's performance improved like new. Thanks for your precise and detailed videos🙏

Wow, this was an important video and very good education... as 2009 sienna owner, i'll be listening for this! I hope our local toyota techs are as good as you.

Much appreciated the video on the VVT-i system,Amd. Your explanation of the timing chain was very useful. Thank you.

I have a 2015 Camry that had the VVT gear rattle and Thanks to your video I knew what it was and that I needed to get it fixed ASAP- Thankfully I was able get it repaired under extended warranty before any damage was done! Thanks AMD ! Keep cranking out the great videos!

I would love to see more videos on the later 1GR-FE engines like the 2015 Tacoma. It's hard to find much bad news or good news about them. I guess that's a good thing.

Excellent !! Thanks for taking the time to create such an informative and in-depth video which explains the issue and the preventive actions. Wow…

I have been going through some adventures with my 2007 Camry. It's been making tapping noise intermittently sometime when accelerates and sometime when the gas pedal is released. I had it taken to the mechanic that I have been taking to the last ten years. They thought it was leaking oil and changed the valve cover gasket that they changed just a few years ago. Now I know how they are and I will never take the car back to them. They said they couldn't find out what happened and told me to take it to the dealer. The dealer said it has to do with the VVT gear and told me I should change all of them for about $8K. I found a new mechanic shop. This mechanic seems to be a very nice guy and told me since the tapping is not ongoing it should not have to do anything with the engine and the sound is coming from the dash. They did an engine flush and the car actually runs better but the tapping sound still comes up. I am praying that there is no issues with the VVT gears. Amd, if you happened to read this, I hope you can give me your option. God Bless!

Thanks for the clear explanation on how this system works. My wife's 2015 Rav 4 does the rattle after a cold start. It drives me crazy!!

Thank you. I knew what VVT was but I had no idea how it worked. Now I have a much better understanding of the VVT system.

Just showed my father this video and he thanks you for explaining it so well

Thank you for your videos AMD! We appreciate what you doing. Have a blessed day as well!

I never hear you talk about the 1.5 Litre 1NZFE engine but I love learning new stuff!

Good information and advice! Appreciate you making these educational videos 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Learned a lot about VVT-i today. This channel deserves more than just a subscribe.

Watching from the Philippines 🇵🇭. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and knowledge to us.

I love you mannn - keep making Toyota specific vids!!! This is the best explanation of how the VVTI mechanism works! Thanks for your content!

I drive an ‘09 Corolla with 112k miles. No major issues with it except the inevitable VVT-I rattle. Doesn’t burn or drip oil. Coming from domestic cars this is an unusual experience. Oil changed at 5k miles religiously or sooner whenever the car was driven less. Definitely will be looking into a parts swap soon. Especially since the engine can grenade (did not know this before). I want to keep the car even though it is turning 15 years old. Was thinking about trading it in, but I can’t bring myself to do it.

Thanks again for your videos! I just purchased a 2010 TC S. I am a long time subscriber, and learned so much from you. So, a vvti engine is new to me, but I will be watching you more!

Another realy nice and educational video! I love it! Looks it's been filmed in the new shop.

I think mine is starting to make that sound everytime in the morning in cold start. Can you do a follow up DIY on how to remove and install the new vvti please sir!

In Australia Toyota have gone to a 12 month/15KM (9K MLS) oil change interval with the M20a engine. I purchased a new Corolla 3 months ago and raised this with the service department who told me all was good and not to worry. I always change my oil every 6 months or 8KMS whichever comes first. Now i'm retired it's six months that comes first, as I'm not out and about like I used to be. They say i'm just wasting my money doing that! I'm also a retired shop owner and agree with you 100% on your recommendation. So i'll continue to do my own oil change@6 months using genuine Toyota 0-16 and oil filter despite what they say. I'm with you brother on this one!

Excellent & informative video! Thanks for going to the trouble to make it !

Great video and I really appreciate all you do.

Awesome and detailed explanation of this issue! I have an 09' Matrix 2zr-fe with almost 260k miles that rattles every time I start it. Had this issue for the past 150k+ miles and also burns oil like a motherf*cker. I always change the oil every 3-5k and top off every week of driving. Great little car in general but this is something that Toyota should've addressed and fully reimbursed.

Excellent. Thank you. Much needed overview and reminders for DIYers like me. It is in the details where the truth shines.

I have a 2010 Sienna with the 2GR-FE engine. It has 235,000 km and has been trouble free. A huge thanks for the heads up. I will check with the dealer about

Such a beautiful way of explaining the technical aspects. Love from India.

Very informative! Thanks for the video.

Experienced advice on avoiding the rattle (at least for the GR series): if you don't want it to rattle, let engine idle for a minute before shutting down overnight. It helped me 100%

2014 Tacoma 2.7l VVTi. Cold starts in the winter makes a knocking noise for maybe 15 seconds at the most. The audio sample you played at 7:45 sounded nothing like what im hearing. i got it new in the fall of 2013. Always maintained, 104K miles. Love your stuff. Great job.

Great guide. My engine made same noise and my mechanic advice a change so we did and can't hear it again. You just thought me what was really happening.

I have a 2007 Corolla with 76K miles. It has been garaged all its life and is, as they say, in “mint” condition. I am Obsessed with keeping it clean and with oil changes. I guess I have been doing all the right things without really knowing why.😊

My 2005 Scion XB has a 1.5 L VVTi engine. No problems with 236,281 miles to-date. Very reliable Toyota engine. Love this car. Admire all the knowledge your channel is providing all of your subscribers. Keep up the excellent work.

I had start up rattle and engine rattle at all times never really though much of there being a difference but the start up rattle went away and higher revs the nocking sound went away so just finished replacing the intake cam gear, also tried doing it with the chain cover on, crank shaft slipped so i pulled everything went to put the valve cover back on and noticed the exhaust gear looked funny one side was higher thought it was becuase of the shape of the spring didnt think much of it went to clean up the chain cover and the exhaust has been grinding away my valve cover, ive just bought this off this guy they where having marrige problems and the wife took off and months later came in the shop with a litter of oil left in her, messed up all those pins in the cam gear, keep up the videos!, started it up she sounds brand new! God bless you

Yeap, I always learn something when I watch your videos. And this is a big one.

Hello, you saved my LX470 transmission. I did a drain and fill last week. Only 1.5 qt came out. It must have been the fluid level where I was getting the P2714 code. I added 3.5 qt and followed your instructions on checking fluid level. Now everything is back to normal. I’m planning to do one more drain and fill next week to get most of the old oil out. Thank you for your videos. MR

As someone who's semi-retired and doing his best to keep a 2000 Toyota Echo going as long as possible, I'm delighted by your channel. I've also got a VVTi engine, the 1NZ-FE, whose primary use seems to be in some models of the Prius. I'd love to see you discuss it, and in particular how to prevent the oil consumption problems in the pre-2003 models along with how reasonable it would to replace the pistons in those years with the revised pistons.

This is the best video I've seen about this issue great job

THANKS A LOT!! It’s a very good vidéo and so compréhensive technical explanations! I own a 1zr fe vvti with 126000 km and it feels really good. So now i will continue to take care of my Toyota more efficiently! Thank you!

9:10 That is very legitimate point that you made here master! I am a GD&T engineer. I totally understood what the design issue was which was not correctly assigned tolerance ranges both pin and hole. That totally makes sense to me. I appreciate the time you have taken for us. 9:26 That entire mechanism needs to be redesign by a supplier other than Toyota. Since TOYOTA did not correctly calculate the tolerance limits of this entire mechanism. Or you should take this apart and add very precise spacers right behind the veins. So that when expansion and contraction take place those spacers are going to stop veins to come off of their places.

Wow! You not only are highly competent in your profession, you also have the ability to explain in easy-to-comprehend language, that people can understand. THANK YOU, IMMENSELY ❣ ❤ 100% ❤ Roland Singh, Canada 🇨🇦

One of the best channels for Toyota lovers 😊

You're the best!, you saved me from buying unnecessary parts.🙌

This was helpful because it showed and explained all of the systems. One thing that would be super helpful would be to display what in layman’s terms is the engine you are talking about. For example If you said the C-3PO QG7 or what have you, if you could display in the corner 3.0 And what year and models . Because we have no idea the names of these engines. But extremely helpful, thanks so much. We buy a lot of Toyotas and this was really helpful

Please do a video on replacing the VVTi gear

This man is the king of vvt. Thank you

Thank you so much for the work you do and thanks for this amazing video! 🙏💛

Thank you my friend. This solved my problem of rough idle at stops. Simple and cheap. You are an excellent teacher. Love your videos.

This man is honest and yes the vvti system is very delicate and it needs babied.

I’m going through the same ordeal on my Nissan Micra. Funnily enough I already started tapping the thread into the outside solenoid that’s stuck in the block. I’ll resume work on it tomorrow but wanted to see if the internet had any other ideas too. Great video man, thanks for sharing either way.

Amazing video! Well explained! Thanks for the content and the advices of course! 👌🏼 It is a really helpful video!

Excellent aa always! Even if you have little time, EVERYONE should listen starting 17:20 about oil changes through 19:30. It's well worth the two minutes.

Thank you for another very informative video. Not very mechanic is created equal. You are an extraordinary knowledgeable & skillful mechanic with high morals and highest work ethics. As part of my maintenance of my 2004 Lexus LS 430, currently it is at 230,000 miles, I plan to have all front & rear suspension components changed with OEM components. I wish I live in the same city as yours, so I can have you work on it. My car is always being serviced by my local Lexus dealership. Again, even at the dealership, not all mechanics are created equal. To be honest, from my experience over the years, there are few very lazy mechanics working there. Few months ago, I had my 5000-mile oil changed, the mechanic did not place back all the grommets for the bottom cover. As I was on my long road trip, on the freeway, part of the bottom cover came off & was dragging on the freeway. By the time I got off the freeway safely to check what the loud noice was, almost half of the cover was missing, while the remaining hanging piece was still dragging on the road. I had to buy some duck tape & go under the car to tape up the hanging portion. Even when I got back home and had a new cover put on by the dealership. My regular service advisor and I were just happened to check under the car just before I leave the dealership to find out the the mechanic who worked on the new cover replacement had at least six holes missing grommets. My advisor had to take my car back in to ensure all holes have a grommets in it. If we did not check, I may have the same problem again driving down the freeway.

Such quality content. Great presentation.

Get video! I need to learn the engine numbers. Thank u so much for telln us a while back about changing oil @ 5,000 miles. I have learned so much from u! 👍

Man, I wish I was where you are. I would definitely come to your shop. I'm going to change both of my VVT gears on my daughter's 2010 Camry SE 2AR-FE engine. Hopefully, I can do it without pulling the engine. 2nd I don't see anybody saying anything about any gaskets when putting the covers back on. And thirdly are the 2 VVT solenoids the same on the top cover? Thanks for your videos man. What a wealth of knowledge

Thanks for the information. my 2008 sienna with 200k miles, i bought it a year ago. it used to make a horrible loud rattling sound on warm startup. I do not notice any rattling in the morning or when the engine is cold, starts really smooth. That warm startup rattle used to bother me so much, i tried using different brand oils and filters. Toyota oil filter and mobil1 0w30 absolutely improved it. it rarely rattles now, and when it does its for a split second barely can hear it.

Very good information! Thank you!

Cool to see the actual parts

Thanks for a great video! My 2013 Camry with 2AR 4-cyl rattles for exactly 1 second upon cold start. Engine has 160K mi and has always done it. What should I do?....this is a GREAT engine in all respects!

Thank you for sharing this. Very informative. What is the typical cost to change the VVTI gear through Toyota?

Really enjoy videos like this. Well done sir 👍

You're so right about the Toyota timing chains versus other makes of timing chains. My Camry with the 2.5 timing chain is $172. The timing chain for my Lincoln Town Car with the 4.6 v8 timing chain costs a rediculous $30 from the dealer.

Morning car care nut! May god bless you and keep you!

I have the 2AR. The intake cam gear has been replaced twice under warranty and it still does it. Unfortunately, the part hasn't been updated so they keep replacing a defective part with another one, lol.

Everything is good when you are a nice person. Very nice presentation. God bless you.

Thanks! this was a great video and really helps to explain the vvt-i system thank you very much

Thank you for your excellent and “ best practices” videos. I would like to know if you have ever done the vvt tsb on the gr engines where the gears are replaced by only removing the vc and camshaft. I have a 2006 IS250 with 202,000 mi and they rattle every morning. I would like to perform this repair to keep my IS running, it’s a great car. Any advice or tips you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

These camshaft sprockets can replace in vehicle . 4 bolts tensioner housing, then remove 2 bolts attached to the tensioner. But be very careful when doing this. Make sure all timing are top dead center. All Mark must lines up of all sprockets. You will need a helper to lift 2 camshaft out while you holding the main drive chain, then keep the main drive chain tension at all time by using something like zip tie to attach to something to keep the main drive chain tension at all time.

Well done. Explained perfectly.

Thank you so much for your explanation and video. I have 2015 Corolla with 2zr fe engine. On cold startup, it sometimes make a rattling noise, kinda like a loose muffler clamp. In fact, I kinda thought that’s what it was (until I saw this video). Therefore I didn’t complain to dealer. Always went away after couple of seconds. I change oil every 5k miles or 6 months. Engine has only gone couple times to 10k miles before oil change. Car was a rental at a dealer. Engine now has about 162k miles. Doesn’t burn any oil. Have always used mobile one synthetic. What parts do I need to change vvt gear? Thank you and keep up the great work. Your videos are great and I wish you the best in your new endeavors with your shop. 😀

Amazing video and technical content, AMD…as always! I’m assuming my ‘06 Lexus GX470 with the legendary 2Uz-FE also has this potential issue. I hear it ever so slightly when I start up. 208k miles. Now I know why!

He is absolutely right bad cam gear can destroy the engine but the timing chain tensioners also go bad if these items are replaced your in good shape and Please use OEM Toyota parts not the crap off eBay

Thanks again for your in depth knowledge!!

Thanks for your videos. I am a subscriber and look forward to all of your new content. I wish there was a BMW guy like you out there.

This is also common problem on 2.4 L Honda engines, VTC actuator rattles on cold start. It is especially more noticeable during winter times

Hi AMD, great video! I have a '10 Corolla LE 1.8L with about 120k. I don't think I have the VVTi rattle at cold starts, however I get a screeching belt noise at cold starts. I got my serpentine belt replaced at 90k like back in 2018. The first time the mechanic didn't tighten it enough and sounded like it was slipping. Then I had a toyota shop tighten it per spec. However, it still get a screeching sound on cold starts. This is on a dayco 5060485 belt. When I originally bought the car in in 2010 from the dealer, I used to get the screeching sound with the toyota belt. However, this would only happen in the mornings when it was very cold in South Florida, which is rare. Now with the Dayco, belt it doesn't matter whether the weather is cold or not. The screeching noise just typically happens on cold starts. I notice if I put the key in the ignition and don't start immediately and move the key back and forth before the start, sometimes this action prevents the screeching noise. Any thoughts? The Toyota shop that tightened it previously said that if the belt keeps making the noise, then just replace it.

Great information as always my friend. Much love and respect!!! 👊🏻

Thank you AMD for another good Video 👍👍

I bought a 2008 Highlander with the 3.5 V6 and 180k miles. About a year after I got it I started getting that very brief rattle, but it would also do it sometimes even when the car was warm. I saw a Scotty Kilmer video that said sometimes the sound can actually be timing chain rattle because the chain tensioner is “oil driven”, and if the tensioner gets clogged up from dirt, lack of maintenance, and so on so that the tensioner does not get enough oil pressure in it right away. He advised trying the ATS oil treatment and changing the oil. I did that and changed to full synthetic. That was 8 months ago and the sound is gone and has not come back.

My sister had a 2009 RAV4 with a 2.5L engine that I always changed the oil every 3 to 5000 miles and it still had the problem. She eventually traded it for a 2018. If these were production problem issues why didn’t Toyota cover these. I have a 2013 RAV4. I noticed if it sits for 2 weeks, there is a very brief light rattle sound. Can I assume this is normal since all of the oil is in the pan? This is similar to the first start when you just changed your oil.

Awesome video, didnt know about the cam gears coming apart. Going to do some research on 2 I'm working on.

Thank you mate. You are a very good man. God bless you and keep you happy and healthy for long time.

I love your videos, i just wanted to say that the timing chain on the mercedez 3.2 is a triple chain it makes the toyota chain look like a joke. Like the ones on the 22r bicycle chains.

My old 2009 1.8L Corolla has this issue randomly for over a decade. 5w30 synthetic since new and now has well over 500,000km and doesn't burn oil measurably. Apparently it doesn't affect longevity too much. Oil change @10K km, religiously.

I disassembled that one on our 2004 Corolla and literally worked cleaning it for 2 days, studying it and then back together with one replaced screw as it failed; still have another set from another head form a 2003 Corolla, Thank you for this video, I always wondered why go with that engineering when Toyotas are famous for oil use which starves engines and causes slugging almost to every one. The one II cleaned was full of this sludge, I do not remember the rattling but Im can tell you the engine overhaul was due to almost no oil, even with regular oil changes....twice!!

Very informative video. Thank You Sir.

Thank you! Finally you addressed this issue. Its definetelly a bad design, experienced even on very low milleage engines. On Europe Toyota/Lexus ignores this and has no service buletin for this as in US. Anyway, this was a disapointment for my trust on Toyota, and certainly will never buy a VVTi engine again. Better stick with 1HD-FTE and 5SFE engines than hybrids with vvtis, nothing like the old engineering to last a life.

You forgot to mention the Plastic Filter w/Screen that is inside the engine block. If this is clogged due to extended oil change interval, replacing or fixing the VVT's would just be temporary. Nice Video by the way

Thanks man, I am enlightened. Keep doing that brother. It really helps. I have my 1TR Engines, it rattled alot

He’s right my brother tried to change timing chain on his 300k miles Tacoma & the dealer asked why he wanted to change it, he told well it got 300k it should b about time & dealer told him Toyota timing chains are built to last a life time

I have the A25 engine in my 2020 RAV4. I've been using Mobil One 0W-16. The oil is changed every 6 months. From Nov 2019 till now the vehicle has 9200+ miles on it and it runs GREAT! Remember this. OIL IS CHEAP, ENGINES ARE EXPENSIVE ! ! ! It's not only the timing chain and gear parts, it's the wear and tear on piston rings, on crankshaft and camshaft bearings, on connecting rod bearings and MANY other rotating parts! OIL IS CHEAP! ENGINES ARE EXPENSIVE ! ! !

Hello Mr Car Care! I hope you can do a repair video on replacing the faulty mechanisms for the 2ZR-FE and related family of engines on Corollas!

Great video,two thumbs up...

Thank you .... for new knowledge and saving many toyotas from going to the junk prematurely