I just purchased a 2003 Toyota 4Runner SR5 (V6). When the engine is warm and the vehicle is parked in a garage or near a wall, you can hear it making a pinging noise (tat-tat-tat-tat) coming from the engine. Kind of sounds like either the fuel injectors or the valve lifters. Has anyone else experienced this kind of noise on theirs? I took it to Toyota and they said it was probably normal? Any advice? Thanks in advance!!

 

It probably is normal, but I learned something after a bad experience with GM. You need to document everything. Call me anal, but if they said it was normal, have them put that in writing. If the sound truly is "normal", than they won't mind doing it.

But, if something goes wrong down the road (unlikely with Toyota's track record) at least you have a paper trail that you tried to take care of it.

Mike

 

Congrats on your new rig and welcome here! I haven't heard the 1GR running. But I've heard so many other Toyota engines that I'm fairly certain you're hearing the fuel injector solenoids clicking away. They sound just like a loose valve adjustment. I'd hesitate to have a dealer tear into a new car for fear of a new problem being created by the "repair". I wouldn't worry about it, plus you have one of the best warranties in the industry. Good luck, and keep us posted.

 

welcome aboard