2003 Runner-ticking in the engine is driving me NUTS!!!

[blazzingbrandon]

I have a 97' 3.4 V6. And mine is also having this problem when I accelerate. Do you think these are related? Is the ticking you guys are talking about sound like a quiet alarm ringing, or a coin vibrating, cause thats what mine sounds like. And it only ticks when I accelerate.

[scott78945]

Mine almost sounds as if a kid is putting a baseball card in the spokes of his bicycle. I just recently took my 2003 into the shop to have the exhaust fixed as I was getting the sulfur smell and the tech there thinks that by changing the exhaust in the front of the car will solve this problem. I am no mechanic but I think he is wrong. It is definately engine related.

[gameguru1360]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

Not to be callous about this problem, but this engine being new for 2003 is still being engineered. It will be a while before they solve this problem, if they consider it a problem. If it doesn't shorten the life of the engine, it may never be solved.

This sounds like one of those problems that will be tested by the buyers over a long period of time. Since there is only so much testing that Toyota can do before they market this engine, they use the buyers as a test bed for further evaluation of long-term problems associated with engine quirks that are not obviously harmful. I am guessing this engine laster forever on their test cells and they won't believe it's a problem before they see a higher than normal breakage of the timing chain, cam lobes or something else that has a long history of reliability.

u sure no one planted an explosive device in your 4runner?? JK!

You could perhaps try putting Dynamat foamliner in the firewall and floor area of your 4runner which would definitely soften that ticking noise. Try dynamat.com or go to crutchfield.com

[kris]

Originally Posted by scott78945

Mine almost sounds as if a kid is putting a baseball card in the spokes of his bicycle. I just recently took my 2003 into the shop to have the exhaust fixed as I was getting the sulfur smell and the tech there thinks that by changing the exhaust in the front of the car will solve this problem. I am no mechanic but I think he is wrong. It is definately engine related.

He could be halfway right. But wrong in the same sense. Anywyas, sometimes if you have a exhaust leak, typically around the exhaust manifold, possibly even a cracked manifold (I am not saying this is your problem) it can cause a "ticking" noise.

[scott78945]

Ok, here is the update on my "ticking sounds". I had the TSB for the catalatic (sp?) converters fixed. It didn't do it for about a month or so. As it got colder here in NY, it started coming back. It seems that when the temperature is above 40 degrees or so it somewhat goes away. It is there but not as loud. When I asked another dealer about it they thought that maybe it was one of my plates underneath coming lose. Another thought it might me the cover on the converter that deflects the heat. Unknown at this time but it is starting to come back though and unsure what to do. I am just living with it right now until I need another oil change which will be at the end of the month. When they got rid of the problem last time the dealer said that it was something in the exhaust rattling, well no crap, I already knew that. But they tightened everything and that is when it stopped. So something keeps loosening up and still trying to figure it out.