I just got done dumping way way way too much $$$ in this turd bucket. And out of no where, it started running rough, and doing this weird chattering deal at idle. Any ideas or help please. I'm about to put a road flare in the back seat, with a full tank of gas. It ran great for a few weeks, then started having transmission shifting issues, so I had the solenoids replaced and a fluid flush. That did not fix the transmission. The transmission shop ended up putting a tps sensor in, which did fix the shifting issues. It ran great for a day then started ticking when driving. I haven't driven it more than a few hundred feet since the ticking starting. Now at idle it ticks as you can hear in this video, and the throttle body chatters. I tore both valve covers off to check valve clearances, thinking it was a valve train issue. All the clearances were perfect. What the hell? Haha.

YouTube


Recently done:
Heads rebuilt
Valves shimmed
Water pump
Timing set
AC compressor
Power steering pump
Head gaskets
Injectors
Knock Sensor
Rotor Cap Wires and Plugs
$2k worth of front suspension parts
Tires
Brakes
Transmission solenoids and fluid flush
Radiator
Hoses
TPS sensor
Air filter
And a bunch of other stuff I am surely forgetting

Could this be rod knock possibly?

I'm going to do a compression test on it this weekend. I'm starting to think I have a burnt valve. I guess I should have gone with a pair of new heads, instead of having the old ones rebuilt.

The reason I'm suspecting a burnt valve, is because of the throttle body chatter. Something is possibly pressurizing the intake. Which leads me to believe an intake valve. When I had the heads rebuilt, they only replaced one valve. The one they replaced is the intake valve on cylinder number 1. Using a stethoscope, I have tracked the noise down to the valve train on cylinder number one. Yay. I'll let you guys know.

Any updates?

I'd love to see some photos of the "turd bucket".

No updates on the Yota yet. Been busy. Going to try and get in there this weekend.

Does not sound like a rod knock. Sounds like your standard valve train chatter. Can you record a video of the noise when you rev up the engine.
A lot of people are not familiar the type of shims required to adjust the lash on these engines. I’ve dealt with plenty of 3vzes that have been “repaired incorrectly”.
When I bought my 4Runner it always had a valve train tick and lacked power. When I rebuilt it and went through the cylinder heads, the lash was wayyyyyy off. I was surprised it could even run with the amount of lash it had.
Ask him how he adjusted the valve lash.

Also to determine a burnt valve you can perform a cylinder head leak down test. If you are unfamiliar with this. YouTube it and you’ll find a break down of what to do and how to verify a burnt valve concern.

Did you check for check engine codes? Even if the light isnt on their may be a code.

I agree, doesn't sound like a rod knock - too "light" of a sound for that. Don't rule out an exhaust leak at the manifold. I've had those sound like something mechanically ticking, but it's the hot gases popping out of a small leak.

Get a piece of 3 foot hose and do some listening. Keep it and your hands away from the fan belt.

I would say pull a valve cover off, but they are a nightmare on these engines...