My check engine light had been on, and when I drive my rig, it makes a ticking noise up around 3,000 rpm.

I took it to a local mechanic (I just moved to this town, so I don't have a guy).

He told me the check engine light was due to loose electrical connections, which he fixed.

He told me the ticking was indicative of an engine bearing that was getting ready to go.

He says he'll only do a complete engine rebuild, or swap in another used engine, charging around $4,000 or around $2,500 respectively.

I'm gonna go get another opinion, but I'm a college student, so I can't really afford to keep paying $80 diagnostic fees.

Does this pass everybody's sniff test? Is this guy trying to screw me? I need help and advice, please.

Thank you guys in advance.

it could be a bad bearing, or it could be just something loose in a 14 year old engine.

Get a second opinion but don't bother for a third. If they agree you have your answer most likely.

If it's just ticking it's not really a time bomb yet. I'd run it until it explodes and then get it swapped out if it were me.

...is $2,500 just a little high to pay for a used engine install?

Most 3vze engines I've heard are noisey. Min has been "ticking" for several thousand miles. Could need the lifters adjusted or it could just be the injectors. I've never heard a 3.0 that didn't have a tick. I wouldn't spend that kinda money fixing a problem that isn't going to leave you stranded.

Try a little thicker oil for a few miles can help too. 5w30, go to 10w30, that will sometimes take care of the problem

You need to establish if the ticking is timed w/the crank timing or cam timing... If it is the crank timing then try to determine wich rod it is... Then pull the plug wire off that cylinder while it's running.... If the ticking stops, it's probably a bearing... If it's cam timing then it could just be a loose rocker??... Go to sears and get a stethoscope, I think they are six bucks... You can always do as suggested and run straight 50 in it until it grenades... It could run another 20K miles ticking... If it's hurt now then who cares??...

sounds like top end to me...valves, lifters etc..not a huge deal and if you're even close to doing what this mechanic proposes I too would run the piss out of it till it goes...change the oil to heavier grade and change it regularly. Other than the ticking it runs good? Has plenty of torque and everything?

Many opinions, the most common is not to worry about it. Older engines make noises when they're running perfectly that would indicate fatal problems on newer engines, as some stuff from the older days is just noisier. The 22RE (the 4cyl engine) is well known for a very loud tick, which sounds like a big problem, but is really just the fuel injectors working.

Drive it until it starts having more problems. A new engine will cost the same weather the old one is making noise or if it shoots a rod out the side. Even if you have to eventually spend the money to replace it, why not get the most out of this one?

Get your new 22RE from Putney's....

tell that mechanic to go fist himself. mine does the same thing,my mechanic says its perfectly normal in the older yotas,he told me even his wifes fj does it(not near as loud of course) so dont sweat it

Haha, I just posted on another "ticking" issue about this, so im gonna suggest the same thing.
See if you can find the Fuel Pressure Regulator. Sits on top of the engine, roundish kinda thing. Get someone to rev the engine up to 2000 revs and touch it with your hand. If its the FPR you can feel the ticking in your finger.
No need to replace it, just leave it tick away to itself!

which engine do you have?

v6 3vze

Is this high ticking noise (like injectors) or a lower pitched ticking noise like a valve or bearing noise?