Hi Everyone,
I have a 97 4runner v6 manual transmission that is making a rapid tapping/ticking sound at idle that goes away above 1500rpm. (its ticking about twice a second and stays constant at twice a second regardless of engine speed below 1500rpm)

The idle is smooth, and at normal speed. The engine is producing normal power. The sound is louder when the outside air temp is colder. The sound is always happening at idle regardless of engine temp. Oil quantity and pressure are normal. There is no check engine light on.

It has been making this sound for a year or so, I'm just getting tired of it. Is there some type of idle valve cycling on and off? Any other ideas?

Thanks for your help,
Mark

 

Hard to tell without being there and listening to it, but all of our engines tick pretty loud - I've always called my engine the "sewing machine". Between the valves and the coil packs, it's probably normal. Listen to a someone else's 3.4 and see if it sounds any different.

It doesn't sound like an exhaust leak to me, those tend to get louder with rpms, not go away.

 

My engine is actually pretty quiet at idle. It always has been. Ocassionally at the end of an oil change, I will throw about 1/2 can of Sea Foam in the crankcase and run it about 50 miles. Any more than that the SeaFoam will just burn off because it is such a thin oil. That seems to help clean the crankcase pretty good, or at least it sounds better. It definetly won't hurt to try the SeaFoam. I then throw the other 1/2 can into the gas tank (between 1/2 tank and 3/4 tank full).

 

My 2002 Tacoma (also v6 manual) doesn't make the sound... That's why its annoying me, one car does, the other doesn't...

 

Mine ticks about that much as well. My understanding is that it's pretty normal for some of these motors. I've read up on adjusting the valves, and it seems like a pretty in-depth process to do that, and sometimes it doesn't even solve the tick. I wish I didn't have the problem, but it doesn't seem to be doing any harm.

 

Try the SeaFoam, then post your results.

 

I have the same thing going on, but I'm not too worried. Curious to see if sea-foam helps.

 

My 2001 has a tick