2000 Toyota Tacoma Squeaking

SPAZTIC

MEMBER
2000 TOYOTA TACOMA
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
120,000 MILES

I drive a 2000 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner 4 cyl 2WD.
Anytime I'm going faster than 30mph, I begin to hear a loud squeaking noise. I thought I could pinpoint it to under the hood, but today while driving into work, I realized it sounds like its coming more from underneath the truck and not from the front end. It only squeaks when around 30mph or faster. And it doesn't squeak when I'm accelerating or braking. If I accelerate up to any speed faster than 30mph and let off the gas, thats when you can hear it. And its not very faint, you really don't have to try to hear it to pick up on it. As far as I can tell, turning, hitting bumps, and any other similar change to help diagnose the problem doesn't change the squeaking. The only thing I can tell is that it only squeaks when going faster than 30mph and not if I'm accelerating or braking. Also doesn't squeak if I am stationary and just reving up the engine. Any clue as to what it might be or atleast something else I can do to try to either find the problem or narrow down what it could be?

3 Replies

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

Start by checking u-joints and the center support bearing if it has a 2-piece driveshaft. Either one of those can do what you describe. If it only starts at 30, there may not be any significant signs while checking them, so look/feel carefully

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Monday, March 2nd, 2009 AT 7:34 AM

SPAZTIC

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I think I know the general area that you are talking about, but what exactly am I looking for? Excessive rust, something lose? Is it just a place that might need lube and I'm looking to see if its dry?

Also, I also noticed 2 other things after I posted:

1) Only did it in the morning when it was roughly 40 degrees outside. Once it warmed up later in the day, not a peep from her.

2) When it was doing it, I turned off my radio, rolled up my windows, and listened to it as carifully as I could and along with the squeak, there was a "hollow" "ting" sound also. I wish I could just record the sounds but unfortunately I can't, so thats the best way I could describe the other sound.

I'll take a look at what you said and see if anything odd catches my eye, but I'm no expert mechanically. I'll tell you if I find anything, and I'll see if anything happens with it tom. Morning when its cold again and its been sitting overnight.

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Monday, March 2nd, 2009 AT 4:34 PM

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

Play in the u-joint or a "rusty" looking dust will be signs of them being bad. Best is to unbolt them so that you can move them full range to see what is good

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Monday, March 2nd, 2009 AT 5:32 PM