So i got done putting 1100 miles on my truck, all highway and now the 3vze is ticking on me, i know i need to do a search for why, lifters i think, but i just need some comfort since up here im surrounded by ford guys, how serious is this, and anyway i brought my ford buddy down to meet the family and while we were down there BLIZZARD! so we had some fun tooling around in the snow snow drifts up to my hood, and still made it through, the ticking just started off quiet but now i hafta turn the radio up in order not to hear it, its very annoying, what do i do to fix it? it doenst seem to be affecting the power, and i feel like im whining over nothin but no problems from when i bought it 120k and now 148k i should be easier on her but its so fun

 

Take a look at your steering shaft seal. It is not uncommon for that thing to wear-out and leave a hole directly into the engine compartment. Letting all that normal engine noise into the cab.

When I first got my runner, the ticking noise had me baffled. I finally noticed the worn shaft seal and replaced it. No more ticking.

Click here to see a pic of what the seal is supposed to look like.

 

definitaly check your steering shaft boot

 

I had this same problem, I even did the same as you and replaced the steering shaft insulater. The problem is not the valves eigther, I know that because I had the valves adjusted, the problem is most likely the timing chain guides. Take off your valve cover and you can see whether the chain guides are worn out. The ticking is the timing chain rubbing against the aluminum head.
I learned this problem from someone on this site, but I forgot who.
Good luck, give us an update.

 

He has a 3VZE.

 

No chain, it's a belt.

 

oops, sorry

 

Valves or injectors but, most likely valves

 

Toyotas of this vintage are notorious for noisy injectors. I'm so used to mine I think I would worry if it wasn't ticking!

 

i have the same noise with mine its soo annyoing. i heard from somewhere on here that the seafoam stuff works. i haven't tried it yet, but its supposed to clean it up.

 

This is most likely your injectors. Over time the infectors tend to get louder as they get older. Mine does the same thing, just something I've gotten used to. Try seaform, alot of people swear by it.

 

Is it a possibility that you have an exhaust leak?

 

I was thinkin exhaust leak. its getting louder so im not sure. Im gonna try the seafoam. to see if it is the injectors. No real loss in power but very loud and annoying. sorry forgot to subscribe to my own thread

 

I seem to have a similar issue, but only happens when the engine is warm, so that should rule our cracked exhaust mani, or leaky gasket. I seafoamed the motor and no difference in tick, did my valve laches, all were withing spec and I fixed 1. Still same tick, at all RPM's and loads.