I went to look at a 1988 v6 4runner with 185,000 miles on it. The engine looked immaculate, new spark plug wires and no oil lealks visible. It idled at around 400-500 rpms and was very smooth. However there was a fast clicking sound comming from what seemed to be the inside of the engine. You cant hear it when the hoods closed but after you open the hood its defeinlty noticable. I thought it may have needed a new timing belt but it was replaced at 77,000 as shown in the records. After the test drive it didnt seem like any loss of power and everything felt excellent (the engine wasnt running rough at all). My question was that does the car most likely need a new timing belt and is that possible to replace in the garage. If so how hard is it. It also made a wierd sound when i hit the throttle, almost like rushing water/wind and he told me it has done this since hes got it and thats its the fuel injecter. is this true?
thanks for your help

 

now that's funny!

 

ahah i wrote that wrong. I was hearing this sound that i described above and the guy said he though it had something to do with the fact it has fuel injection. THIs didnt seem ribght as all the 4runners ive seen have never had this. I thought that if this clicking sound was from the timing belt that maybe the timing was off cause this sound. but i duno. Anyone have any ideas?

 

The 3.0 V6 is a noisy engine. The clicking you are describing is normal. It is a mix of injector and valve noise. There is no getting around it. As for the rushing water/wind sound, I don't know. On my 3.0 I can clearly hear my intake sucking air at idle (from inside and outside the truck) and when the throttle is applied (with the hood open). Perhaps that is what you are hearing

 

Timing belt replacement on this engine is no walk in the park, but it is doable in your garage.

 

that rushing noise is probably eaither the airbox or the heater...when you turn the heat on it opens more places for coolant to go to so youll here a water noise...

as for the tapping its the injectors...its VERY common on our trucks and really doesnt effect anything

 

I posted a similar question for my 3rd gen a few days ago and people chimed in with the possibility of it being the injectors. I doubt this for me b/c it's a brand new noise that I've never noticed before it's only apparent at idle.

My mechanic w/o looking at it feels that it is the t-belt tensioner b/c this happened to his Honda Passport and seems to go out at 100k miles on most trucks in his experience. He also stated that this is something that is not changed as part of a timing belt change.

The weird thing is I had the noise for two days and now it's gone. The truck runs great except weird noises freak me out. Anyway, I think it could be this t-belt tensioner...

 

fuel pressure regulator? lay your hand on it and see if the light tapping you feel from the valve coincides/coordinates with the ticking you hear.

mine does this like mad. but runs great.

 

my ticking was so loud the stealership diagnosed it as a rod knock due to shot bearings. i didn't find the source of the noise while it was as loud as an old diesel engine (it seriously sounded like an old diesel), but after seafoaming the crankcase and gas tank, it quieted down significantly. there is still a noticable ticking when i step on the throttle; i have even used a poor man's stethoscope, finding the ticking consistent with the noise from the fuel pressure regulator. hopefully my next attempt at cleaning the fuel system will quiet it down more.