2004 TOYOTA AVALON Engine Problems

CAR MAKES A VERY, VERY LOUD SCREECHING SOUND WHEN STARTED WITH A/C OR HEATING ON (BUT MORE COMMONLY WITH A/C). THE SOUND WILL SOMETIMES DIE DOWN OR STOP ONCE A/C IS TURNED OFF, BUT NOT ALWAYS. PUDDLES CAN TRIGGER THE SOUND AS WELL. SOUND CAN BE HEARD MAINLY UPON INITAL STARTUP BUT CAN OCCUR AFTER CAR IS IN MOTION.

I'VE NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, ELECTRICAL, COOLANT OR SOMETHING. MY MECHANICS FINDS NO LEAKS, BUT I CHECKED ONCE AND THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY, FIND NO LEAKS. SOMEHOW, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR MUD FLAP CAME OFF AND THE TRUNK LID DOESN'T LINE UP. IT ALWAYS LOOKS LIKE IT'S PARTIALLY OPENED. WHEN DRIVING I HEAR AND FEEL RATTLING SOUNDS THAT SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION OR BODY PANELS. MORE LIKE THE SUSPENSION. THE PERSON I BOUGHT IT FROM HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY AND HAD TIMING CHAIN, O2 SENSOR, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES CHECKED AND FIXED OR REPLACED. THEY ALSO HAD IT COMPLETELY CHECKED OUT AND ANYTHING WRONG WAS FIXED. IT ALSO GETS VERY POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE STEERING ALSO DOESN'T FEEL QUITE RIGHT, CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN THAT VERY WELL, OTHER THAN IT'S NO QUITE RIGHT. ALSO, FOR SOME REASON THE BATTERY WOULDN'T START THE CAR ONE...

I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR AND HAD DRIVEN INTO MY DRIVEWAY (AFTER OPENING THE GARAGE DOOR) TO ENTER THE GARAGE. THE CAR SUDDENLY TOOK OFF AND BEFORE I KNEW, I HAD CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE AND WENT THROUGH IT. THE CAR SMASHED INTO GARDENING TOOLS, SNOW SHOVELS, LAWN MOWER, LEAF BLOWER, TRASH CANS, AND FLOWERING POTS. IT CAME TO A STOP PARTLY BY THE COAT CLOSET WALL THAT PROTRUDES INTO THE GARAGE AND PARTLY BY ALL THE STUFF THAT GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE CAR. THE GARAGE DOOR RAILING WAS DAMAGED AND THE DOOR WAS HANGING A FEW INCHES ABOVE MY CAR. I HEARD THINGS FALLING ABOVE ME. I THOUGHT THAT THE ROOF WOULD COLLAPSE. I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS STILL REVVING AND I SHUT IT. I SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN I OPENED THE DOOR AND RAN OUT INTO THE HOUSE. THE CAR,...