[Dkj]

I just picked up this 88 4Runner with a 22RE and when I test drove it sounded great.... after I got it home and drove it a few times I started to hear this really strange noise. I had an 87 4Runner about 5 years ago that also had the 22RE and it developed death rattle and I ended up replacing the timing chain and guides myself, so I thought that it was possibly the timing chain guides on this one also. However after pulling all drive belts and running it and still hearing the same noise and pulling the valve cover the guides are in tact. Is it possible the timing chain tentioner could be wore out and causing a timing noise? The noise is a rhythmic whining/rattling/slight grinding noise. I can take a video and post it to YouTube if that will help. To me it doesn't sound like a knock and I can hear it from all points of the engine and I'm having trouble pin pointing the source. Any help would be appreciated.

[fourwd1]

How many miles are on it?

[Dkj]

The odometer says 222,000
I just took a video and you can hear the sound pretty good I'm going to upload it to youtube now.

[Dkj]

Here's the link to the video. It's a little quiet because it was cold, it gets a little louder when its warmed up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGcF0VGGAG8

[KidVermicious]

Hard to tell over video like that, but there's a rattling noise in there that could easily be a chain with no tension zinging on the guides. Does it chuckle like an old Mercedes diesel when you first start it?

[Dkj]

I guess I've never heard a Mercedes diesel chuckle... what do you mean? The engine runs great it will do 75 with 35" tires. Just sounds like crap. I may let it fully warm up and take another video. I just don't want to replace the chain if the noise is coming from the head ya know?

[Dkj]

I cant get a video that sounds any better than the first one. I guess I'll throw a new chain in it this weekend if I can get some good weather. It's been snowing for 2 weeks here. I appreciate you guys taking a look at the video and trying to help. If I get it sorted out I will post an update.

[wallytoo]

that sounds like a good idea, just throw some parts at it, and i'm sure the problem will magically go away. good luck with that!

[Dkj]

Well I tried to run the engine with the valve cover off to try to look at the chain but it wont run without some vacuum. Do you have any ideas?
Troll much?

[Dkj]

and obviously if I pulled it apart and the chain showed no damage and the timing cover isnt being eaten alive then I probably wouldnt "Throw parts at it"
Idiot

[gtgt_bangbang]

nope , no sir , no trolling here. But did you try to carve a clear valve cover from the frozen tundra lake ice out back so you could see the chain operate thru it ? That would better than a stethoscope, and not unlike that glass window some body put on a cow to watch it gack up cuddies.

I strain my oil thru one of those gold mesh reusable coffee filters when looking for fine bits of debris .
Makes a mean mocha too.

Why do you think you need crankcase vacuum to run it ?

[Dkj]

Well i dont know I hooked up the sensors and the air box tube but it would only start for a few seconds and then die before I could run around and try to look at the chain lol. I will check for metal in the oil this weekend too. You're cracking me up with your posts on other threads.

[gtgt_bangbang]

Originally Posted by KidVermicious

... Does it chuckle like an old Mercedes diesel when you first start it?

zery interestinhk ...

[wallytoo]

Originally Posted by Dkj

and obviously if I pulled it apart and the chain showed no damage and the timing cover isnt being eaten alive then I probably wouldnt "Throw parts at it"
Idiot

GFY.

first, it isn't obvious that you'd do any such thing, nor is it obvious that you have any clue how to determine whether the timing chain is ok or not. you claim in the first post that you took off the valve cover to check the guides, but that they are intact. you didn't bother to inspect the chain at that time? what makes you think slapping a new timing chain is going to take care of it, especially when you couldn't tell from looking at the chain whether anything was wrong with it? that's an expensive part (and time consuming to boot) to just slap in there to find out whether it fixes it or not - a fool's errand. but, hey, knock yourself out and spend your money on a new timing chain. maybe you'll get lucky.

me, i'd do a little more diagnostic work (and research) on it before i replaced the timing chain.

[Dkj]

Yea I really dont care what you would do buddy.