Missing shroud on engine part?

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I drove my Prado to work a few days ago and noticed a loud rattle coming from somewhere. At first I thought the tail gate wasn't shut properly so made sure it was firmly shut when I got to work. Driving home I again heard the rattle but this time it was much louder. I turned the radio off to try and localise the source of the noise and now suspect it was coming from the engine bay. I inspected the engine bay when I got home but couldn't see anything loose in there or under the car.

Hubby has driven the car since and said he couldn't hear any rattle but I know I wasn't imagining things, this was a loud rattle. The only thing I've done since last driving it is to make sure the bonnet lifter pole was properly latched into it's clip.

I've taken a pic of the engine bay and I'm hoping someone on here can tell me if the part in the center of the pic should have a shroud on it. I feel a bit silly asking such a question but I honestly can't recall whether there was something there before.

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The engine shot on this ad doesn't have a shroud
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...5&sort=default

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

[IMG][/IMG]

Going by this picture I dont think your missing anything from that area ?? I dont remeber on mine this throttle body assembly ever been covered with anything.........You still have the rattle now or has it gone ?? Cheers Steve

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Same idea amts lol. Cheers Steve

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Haha, snap! (nearly)

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I dont remember on mine this throttle body assembly ever been covered with anything.........You still have the rattle now or has it gone ?? Cheers Steve

Ah so that's what it is LOL! Actually I did think throttle looking at it but I'll admit I wasn't 100% sure. Thanks for putting up those pics, at least I know that's not the cause of the problem. The rattle has gone now, I'm still convinced something was loose & possibly bouncing around on the fan blades or belts though.

It was dark when it happened so I retraced my route that night during the day today from the last point I recall hearing the rattle but couldn't see any parts lying on the roadside. I'm just worried because we just had $2500 worth of service work done on the car (new T belt, cam seals, tension pulleys, water pump, and radiator) and I hope there hasn't been some further damage caused by whatever was bouncing around in there. Do you think it might just have been a stone bouncing around?

Here's a wider angle pic of the engine bay, I can't see anything else unusual there :-

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Stone ?? I doubt it. Now you have mentioned service Id be checking it a bit more. Maybe they left a spanner in there and it was hopping about till its fallen out ?? Check under as well, make sure all the bolts are in the bashplates (2 of them) and anything else you can see. I always worry about things like that after some one has been playing with it........Not sure your location but welcome to drop by and have another set of eyes go over it for you just for a double check............Cheers Steve

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Not sure your location but welcome to drop by and have another set of eyes go over it for you just for a double check............Cheers Steve

Thanks for the offer Steve but it would be a hell of a commute for you, I'm in Melbourne :-). I might just take it back to the dealer and ask them to re-check, at least they have a hoist to put it on.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

LOL fido, you may be right. Hopefully it was just a spanner and its dropped out and not cause you any more worry.....Cheers steve