Hi - I have an '89 toyota truck, 235k miles, V6 3VZE, original owner. Over the past week I have noticed an engine sound happening when the engine is warm at idle. The noise happens very consistently a loud tick-tick-tick-tick (kinda like a hammer) then a 1-2 second quiet gap and then the tick-tick-tick-tick again.

I used a screwdriver (best stethoscope I could find in the toolbox) to try and narrow down where the noise might be coming from. Its the loudest when listening to the intake manifold over the cylinders closest to the passenger compartment.

Car runs excellent other than the noise. Using Castol 10w-40 non-synthetic oil.

I'll do a couple more tests and report back but any advice is appreciated!

-Aaron

 

try to unplug the reed valve and see if gos away mine was ticking like crazy I unplugged mine for a second and it stopped.

when I plugged it back in it ticked again

 

Might be your fuel injectors. Mine tick.

 

I am not sure if your V6 engine has an "idler pulley" but that was replaced on my 22RE to stop a lot of ticking.... I am most definitely not an engine mechanic....

 

have you thought it may be your tensioners

do you have a timing belt or chain (my qustions)
and yes, injectors do make noise. ive rebuilt mine on my bmw, but just got this truck so i have q/s too.

 

mine tick too and i'm pretty sure it's the injectors as well. have any friends with a 3.0? see how theirs sound.

 

The "vezzy" simply ticks alot...

 

Could be lifter tick. Had that on my 22RE. ...Then it popped a head gasket.

 

I just did a full rebuild on my 3.0 and had the injectors rebuilt by witchhunter performance and they still tick pretty loud.

 

The steezy 3veezy has a timing belt

 

Just a quick update:
I checked for the noise this morning with the engine fully cold and there is no noise at all at idle.

Drove it around for a while and then the noise was there once it was warmed up at idle.

I gave it some gas and the noise goes away above about 1500rpm. So I guess I'll attribute it to the engine getting a bit looser with age and just keep listening to see if it gets any louder. I was just a bit worried though because it really just started over the last couple weeks and i'm hoping its not symptomatic of some bigger problem that could happen soon...fingers crossed I can get the truck to 300K

If its the injectors, where would the noise be the loudest when I listen to the engine? Anything I can do about trying to pinpoint them as the culprit noisemaker?

I'll probably stop by my local mechanic to get his opinion as well and let you all know what he thinks... Thanks all for the suggestions!

 

Could be an exhaust leak from the manifold. My friends pathfinder did the exact same thing.

 

My bet is that it is your fuel pressure regulator(normal) - put your finger on it, you will be able to feel it as you hear it.

 

I have the same problem with my truck. Only it seems to be getting worse in the past few weeks...dont really know why. Mine is loudest at start up now and after it warms up and the thermostat opens up the ticking is quited down a great deal but is still present.

Getting a bit worried because it is definitely getting worse.

Maybe I can blow that 3.slow I made the mistake of putting in last winter and put in a efi 22r.

Just a little reluctant to because i have about 600$ into it now with new parts but the darn thing still wont run right.....

ANYONE LOOKING GOT 3.O PARTS HAHAHHAHA

 

+1 i love it when someone spends $500. to have the valves adjusted and it still ticks!

 

my 3vze ticks like hell too.

 

I Own 4 Toyotas And They All Tick. Everyone I Know Their Toyotas Tick . That Is Toyotas Trademark.

 

I have a 95 4runner 3.0 v-6 with 188k and the injectors tick and I was told that it is about a grand to have them replaced....LET EM TICK!!

 

I have a 1990 4Runner 3.0 V6 and my truck ticks also..
Its in the shop right now (Not my choice) and it can be alot of things.
Except mine is probably worse because it ticked all the time.
When i got it it ticked at different times and turned out it was a burnt rod.
Then fixed that up and ticks some more. Maybe tuning it up will help a little considering its fresh out the shop.

Can you put a link to what the "Toyota Tick" sounds like? Or describe it?
Maybe that is what my runner is doing..

 

Well I had the same exact issue when I got my 95 4Runner 3.0. Would tick on the way down from a rev, sometimes on the way up. No it's not injectors, I know what they sound like. Well then I hydro-locked it and the little "tick" became a constant tick and much louder. I have yet to pull the heads to find it.the noise is definitely coming from the upper side of the engine. Hard to tell which side it is. I'm thinking it's an intake valve stuck but not positive. Shouldn't be an exhaust does not suck a rag like they can do from time to time.

This is a tick not a knock. I have not checked the reed valve thing yet. Maybe this weekend if I'm feeling better.