I've been searching the last couple of days but can't find anything that exactly relates. I could use yotatechs expertise. I am getting a rattling noise in 4th gear when I press on the throttle. It also occurs in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear but only when I let up on the throttle. No sounds in 5th gear. I was thinking it was a tranny problem but my father-in-law (who is a mechanic) said it could be rod bearings. He thought he heard it at idle and as I reved the motor as he sat underneath. I just did the Timing chain, water pump, oil pump, and oil pan gasket. It has new fluids everywhere and is full. I even greased up every zerk fitting i could find. I am going to try and put a pint of Lucas oil and see if that quiets anything down. The power is good in all gears, or at least it can possibly be with a 22re on 35's. So far I am stumped. I bought the 4runner in September. The motor, tranny, and axles were rebuilt about 60,000 miles ago. Any ideas?
It's a 1987 4runner 22re 5 speed.

 

Are you sure its not detonation (pinging), are you sure you got the timming set right after the timming chain was replaced ?, have you ever replaced the fuel filter ?. If it was a rod knock you would hear it all the time.

 

I am pretty sure the timing is right. My father-in-law set it with his timing light. I was wondering if the bearings could get ruined by dirt since i had the oil pan off. Maybe that is the sound.

 

Removing the oil pan shouldn`t cause any problems like that. When you set the timming did you jumper the two terminals in the fuse box under the hood before you set the timming ?, if not then the timming won`t be right.

 

i did the fuse box thing. im pretty sure the timing is right. i drove it around the block last night. im pretty sure now that it is a transmission problem. im gonna have a repair shop look at it tomorrow. Ill let you guys know how it goes. thanks

 

Could just be u-joints, too.

 

i greased them too. im trying to find the cheapest fix but am succumbing to the fact that i need a new tranny.

 

Dude. If your tranny was going out, would new fluid fix it? No. If your u-joint is going out, greasing it does nothing to fix the problem. Maybe you need a new tranny, but just because you greased the u-joints doesn't rule them out. If one or the other is on it's way out, greasing it won't help.

 

It could also be your t-case. That's what the rattling noise in my truck is. A t-case doesn't look so bad to rebuild yourself, and you can get a kit from Marlin for about $200..

 

go get a bottle of sea foam. follow the direction. use the big valine from the brake booster. if u have an exhaust leak u will see it. i thought i had a rod knock until i did a sea foam treatment. found a exhaust leak at the manifold fixed it now the knock is gone nice and quiet now

 

Is this rattling noise heard at all with engine in neutral? Or ONLY when you're in gear?