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

[scott78945]

I am so upset with my new Runner. I have had it for a year now and the ticking in then engine when you accelerate drives me nuts. I feel like I am driving a vehicle that is 10 years old!! I love everything else about it. I just can't believe that Toyota can make such an unbelievable vehicle but cannot get a ticking out of th engine! I have the V6 and I test drove the V8. When I test drove the V8 I don't remember hearing the ticking. What do you guys do to drown out the noise? I am quite upset over this but I still love the car. I have a 2003. I guess I am just venting a little.

[Brian R.]

What has been done to try to eliminate the noise?

[scott78945]

I dealership said they "looked" at the problem and of course found none. They suggested that I try high octane gas. So I have been doing that. I understand that there will be some ticking as this is in the handbook that came with the vehicle. That I understand. What worries me is that it isn't the same all the time. There are times that I can hear it in the cabin with all the windows closed and then there are times that I don't here it at all. When I start my car and it sometimes will tick while it is idling. I jus think there is something really wrong but the dealer won't take the time to look at it and they are the only one around me. I am already on my 3rd sunroof as that acts up all the time also. I just don't know what to do. When I go back into the dealer for the new sunroof, I am going to have them look at the engine again as I am not satisfied with the results. I just think something is really wrong...

[Brian R.]

Search these forums for that problem. It has been discussed alot.

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/[email protected]/4559

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/[email protected]/0

[scott78945]

Thanks for the help. I will have to look them over.

[Brian R.]

You're welcome - Good Luck. It doesn't sound like an impossible problem to solve.

[VTISC007]

Sometimes it helps to have an amplifier and stronger speakers...........turn up the radio some more, the noise goes away.

[CWalters062185]

I have a 2004-V6-4Runner-Sport Edition that I bought at the end of January, and I am also experiencing the ticking during acceleration. I understand how you feel, because other than that, I am in love with the vehicle. I haven't notified my dealer about the problem yet, because I have been trying to make myself believe it is the normal sound of the engine, however I am now becoming concerned with the noise. I know you have posted your concerns some time ago, but if you or anybody could let me know what you have found out, I would greatly appreciate it!! THANKS!!

[scott78945]

Well, I took my complaint right to Toyota. I called their service number, I believe 1-800-Toyota but unsure, check their website. Anyways, I got a rep and he had never heard of the problem. He said that I would get a call back after he investigated it. The next day I got a call from my local dealer where I bought it from. He told me that he spoke with Toyota and it is an engineering defect. The currently do not have a fix in place and unsure if they will because as far as they know it isn't damaging the engine. I am thinking that if enough people complain about it then maybe they will do something. If I were you I would call Toyota yourself and ask about it. I would like to see what answers someone else gets. I know it sucks but I guess we will have to live with it. If I could do it all over again I would have boughten the V8 obviously. I was thinking of gas mileage and look what it got me.

[CWalters062185]

Thanks for your information. I am going to wait till my next service is due to inform my Toyota dealer of the prob. I called Toyota direct, and they also knew nothing of the problem, and told me that there are no recalls on it. So, it looks like we are both in the same boat, haha. I am tempted to try out another 4Runner to see if I hear the noise, but I don't have the money or the heart to trade the one I have. Keep me posted if you come up with any more information. I will let you know how I make out.

[ToyTundra]

A ticking is used to describe an exhaust manifold leak that some V8 Tundra have. I thought i solved the problem until i read that both run the 6 cylinder.

I hope the dealers treat you guys right and fix the problem.

[scott78945]

As this was my first Toyota I was quite suprised to find this noise in the engine. I hope Toyota comes up with some sort of a fix. I have had my Runner just a little over a year and it is just very annoying to hear. Thank god that I live in Centra NY and 6 out of 12 months is winter so I don't have to listen to it, LOL. I am sure that I can get used to it but I shouldn't have to. Just my 2 cents...

[CWalters062185]

My 4Runner is my first Toyota also, and it was shocking for me to have concerns after only 6 months of owning it. I have heard nothing but good about Toyota vehicles, however this put quite a damper on my view of them. After spending 30 grand on the SUV of my dreams, it is really just pissing me off!!

[scott78945]

You took the words right out of my mouth...Good luck to us for getting a fix to the problem. I have already contemplated turning it in.

[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.