hehehehe you are going to be in for a shock....

expect to be quoted about 600-1000... I did my 3vze's myself.

 

I called a Toyota dealership somewhat near my house and asked them if my 2001 Tacoma 3.4L ever needed a valve adjustment. They told me it didn't. I also have a ticking sound, but haven't really figured out where it's coming from, yet.

My uncle (mechanic) works with another mechanic who used to be a Toyota Tech. I had my uncle ask him if he knew what the ticking sound might be. His reply: it might be a fuel injector, and if not, probably not anything serious.

I haven't tried anything yet to remedy it though. I got a couple cans of BG 44K that I'm gonna run through it and see if that helps.

 

lol just like how they said 3vze's dont need their valves shimmed, (even though toyota specifies that they do every 80,000iirc) then they wonder why they are getting a bunch of burned valves....lol

If the 5vzfe uses a bucket shim under the cams to index the valve, then yes they most definately need to be checked...

 

If you do bring it in and get it fixed keep us posted..... wish I could be of more help. I will say that BG 44 is pretty amazing but don't run too much of it, it's harsh.

 

Can anybody verify whether or not "the 5vzfe uses a bucket shim under the cams to index the valve"?

 

the noise sounds like my 22re, no noises like that on the 3.4. i tried all of the above fixes for the 22re w/o success, but it runs good. ive heard people call it a yota motor noise. i know of 4 22re's that sound similiar and have high mileage too.

 

Probably shouldn't compare the 22re and the 3.4, they don't have too much in common in reference to sniffing out a mysterious noise.

 

I definately don't think it's something not to worry about. Maybe in a way, but I belive that if I do worry about it then my engine will last longer .

I am actually gonna do another sea foam treatment and maybe pick up that BG44 stuff and run it through to see if it'll do anything, though I doubt that it will.

And of course I will keep you guys updated on this issue, I know a lot of you wanna know!

Marko

 

my 95 makes that exact sound, and its either the injectors or regulator. i used a stethoscope. you can get one from sears for about 10bones. i listened all over the engine, it was loudest on injectors, and the regulator. now my truck is the 12valve motor, so the timing is a little different, but basically mine sounds just like that. however, dont rule out a crack on one of the exaust maniflolds, a small crack will sound like a quarter being tapped against metal. also, not 100%, but i believe the 5vzfe is shim over bucket, in response to another question on page one. hope that helps brad

 

does anyone have pics of their 5vzfe with the valve covers off? I can tell ya for sure if someone does.

 

what he said. it did it on mine when one of the spark plugs wuz lose

 

I had a similar issue with my 4runner... same deal... the timing belt had been replaced. But not done correctly. When the belt is done.... the crank shaft "key" should be replaced and crank bolt properly torqued. Basically, the key was notching out the pulley until it had enough movement to throw the timing off by about 1 tooth. And it made some fun noise like yours. I was sure the lifters were bad...

That's were I'd start. These motors just don't have many "tick" issues otherwise.

 

I have this same problem...I'm thinking valves, it just sounds like a valve issue.

Is it worth running premium fuel through it to see if that helps? Not sure what that would narrow it down to.

Fink

 

how is the oil consumpsion?

an you pull the injector connector on the cylinders to cut the fuel? The will tell you if it is isolated to a single cylinder or several.

How is your oil pressure?

I have a Prism that has that sound and heavy oil burning. Near as I can tell without taking the engine apart, the oil control ring is broke on #2 because that is the cylinder that has the noise in it as well as I burn about a quart every 1000 miles.

 

I had the same noise on my '96 Grand Am. It was valve tap/piston slap but they were never able to fix it.

I have the same noise on the XRunner, and I asked on CustomTacos about it, and they said they took it to their dealers, and they said it was the VVTI, and that it was normal in 4.0.

Both cases pointed to the valves.

I may bring the XRunner to the dealer this weekend and see what they tell me.

 

Any updates?