Ok so I’m having a little trouble getting to bottom of some things on this 94 4runner 22re I just bought. I know these are common problems and Ive read a-lot of posts on different forums before deciding to ask for help.

Its running pretty good for 207,000 on the motor and i just did the valves and new gasket kit which didn’t fix the noise unfortunately.

The chain looked good and so did the rest of the top of inside of motor rockers etc.

Im gonna check the EGR but would like some help in doing it right. I’ll also loosen the valve cover up and check for vacuum leaks but the first check for sound had it coming from rear near the intake.

Valves were all pretty close with a few on the tight side.

Ok any help is appreciated! And ill post more info sfter these tests.

 

Ok so no apparent vacuum leaks and the location sounds like the coolant manifold on intake side of motor. Going over the whole engine with big screw driver to ear showed this area to have the noise.

The motor itself sounded good all over

maybe its the fan or pulley and its channeling through the coolant hose and into manifold. Hopefully it’s not coming from deeper within the engine and up through that manifold!

 

Injector noise, compare on the injector to near the injector on the intake.

Idle probably isn't related, but could be a "dry firing" injector which will have an "off note" to the sound.

 

Thanks CO 94

gonna try run some seafoam through to hopefully clean up the injectors since they’re a pita to get to.

Also gonna clean up throttle body more deeply and check the coolant valve that’s apparently notorious for clogging

 

I keep forgetting to listen to the injectors. I’ll do it tomorrow.

Today i changed the oil and ran seafoam in the gas tank and a can of spray through the intake manifold.

I also added some lucasoil with the new oil at change.

Holy Cow it runs better! Smoother idle and more power feels like a new’er engine.

Still got the tick. And the coolant valve was definitely not clogged.

Hopefully its noisy injectors which which honestly I can live with till they absolutely need replacing.

 

Ok so quick update here.

Placing the long handle screwdriver on each injector resulted in the exact ticking noise. I can only guess that they are cheap? Injectors and that’s causing the noise.

I have noticed a few more things since driving the truck.

1 it has spark knock under load around 2.5k rpms particularly uphills in 4th and 5th and sometimes 3rd. I’m learning how to drive it to avoid that for now by keeping the throttle pressure low and gear appropriate. It may be due to running ethanol free gas (go figure) I didn’t notice it till I filled up with this stuff. Or it could be the egr and other intake connected and intake manifold cleanliness issues. Planning to clean all of these things this week. I’m hoping to get a fuel filter before since it’s buried under all this stuff. If I had the money I’d get oem injectors back in it. Also will try a 1/4 tank of the old 87 ethanol and see how she does. If it’s still knocking I’ll try and up the octane and see if that helps.

It idles a little rough but not too bad. However it idles high 1500 when cold started and eventually drops back to around 750 or a little higher. When the AC comes on it idles lower. I’ve turned the AC idle knob and that does seem to help get it up to about 800 but sometimes it clicks on and drags the idle down. I’ve turned the idle up knob behind glove box all the way up because anywhere else and the AC doesn’t work.

I’m figuring EGR is dirty and causing spark knock and rough idle, but the Idle Air controller under the manifold and the intake being dirty as well are probably playing a role. Hopefully cleaning all these thoroughly and putting in the new oem spark plugs will help her smooth on out and the pinging (spark knock) will stop!

I also put in a new idle adjust o ring and will do the AC idle knob oring this week as well.

She aint perfect but shes damn reliable and i aim to keep her that way, the Good Lord willing!

 

When I put the screw driver on the injectors it was very clear the ticking was coming from all four injectors. Perhaps they are cheap injectors? They look quite new. I don’t have service records or receipts so no way to tell.

 

This is the sound of the 22re that warms our hearts, it's normal, lots of us can hear them coming and start looking around while they are still blocks away or in heavy traffic.

 

Lol! 😂 well that soothes my soul. I’m a budding enthusiast haha.

I double checked the cam chain guide and while it’s in good (looks nee condition) sadly it was replaced with a plastic guide. However since it’s new I’ll run it till it does or I sell the truck (hopefully first haha) or just do it right when the time comes.

Ill report back when Ive thoroughly cleaned the intake throttle body and all the components. Hopefully with a smoother running truck free from spark knock!

Haribol