Citykid

Hey there,
Just had a new head installed, along w/ timing chain cause at 125000 miles a spark plug broke and fell into the cylinder. So they replaced the head (couldn't re-tap it) and it runs fine. BUT, it almost sounds like a diesel now. Always hear the chc chc chc chc chc when at idle and acceleration.

Brought it back to the stealership to double check if this is right. They said "It runs fine. They couldn't find some of the pieces of the spark plug so that's probably what is causing the sound."

Cbohl51

That sounds like an exhaust leak to me. Let the car sit over night, and when you first turn it on the next day, but your hand around where manifold bolts to the head on the side they replaced, and see if you can feel any leaks.

The broken up spark plug should be out of the cylinder for sure. If they left parts of it in there, it could damage the valves.

Sounds like they don't want to fix their screw up.

hector200sx

+1 on the exhaust leak i would take it back and make them fix it

Citykid

How exactly do I see if I have the exhaust leak? I was just under the hood and I'd be damned if anything looked/felt wrong (other than that insistent ticking).

whokrz

(other than that insistent ticking)

It might also be the valves, they loosen up a little after the first 500 miles. When the engine is cold set them to 7 and 11. Might want to make sure the timing and idle speed are correct, will make it idle ruff.

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

22REs are noisy anyway. Could be valves, timing chain, leaking exhaust, etc.

Like said above, try the simple first like valve adjustment and leaking exhaust before doing anything drastic.

Citykid

Well, after talking with you guys and having some other guys listen to my truck,
I'm convinced it is the valves. Probably weren't adjusted when the new head was installed.

But the stealership is being very difficult about owning up to this. I was one step away from leaving in handcuffs today when
Atlantic Toyota (Amityville, Long Island) said it was my fault. "We told you part of the spark plug went unfound and that is
the sound, not the valves. Since we told you this there is nothing for us to do."

After many a choice set of words; I am left to fight with, uh... speak with the original knuckle-head that I dealt with in the beginning.
He, and only he, can authorise that my engine be torn down. Not his boss mind you, only him.

So either they take the intake off to adjust the valves or they take the whole engine apart to find this elusive part. Either way, I'll be
damned if I leave there tomorrow morning in other than my truck running correctly or in the back of a squad car.

Cbohl51

It is pretty much IMPOSSIBLE for part of the spark plug to be left in there. It would've either damaged the piston and valves probably causing the engine to blow or it would be reduced to dust by this time.

Sounds like the stealership is still trying to screw you over man.

SoCalPaul

Where do they think the piece went? It must either be in the cylinder or the exhaust port. Since both of these were apart, they would have had to be blind not to find it. Most likely it is caught in the catalytic converter.

Citykid

I will spare you the long story of absoluite BS these guys put me through. But after being told that I was going to have to pay to take apart my engine cause this wasn't their problem, I got them to admit that it just could be their problem.

The cause? A plastic baffle was loose and hitting the cam shaft. Fixed in one hour (after I demanded a different mechanic.)

One_96TR4

Good to hear you got it taken care of and all worked out. I'd think twice about them doing my work in the future though!

hross14

Could we get some more info on what motor is in there. If it was a 4 banger--then a new head would mean all the spark plug pieces could be removed. Valves adjustment has nothing to do with a missing spark plug piece?? Can we get some more detail to better help you out?

Cbohl51

Glad to hear you got it sorted out, and they admitted fault.

Def look for a new mechanic in the future!

hross14

Stealerships

hector200sx

in 2001 they only came with the v6 3.4l