Is there 1 cause for the famous "tick"?

DeclansDaddy

DeclansDaddy

New member
Every 22R I've have had has that tick. You know the one. And I was always told to just let it be and do to go trying to fix it because I'd do more damage in trying to find it. Is there 1 specific tick that these things have or could it be a number of things?
 
Register to hide this ad
That tick is the rocker arms hitting the valve stems. There is a gap between the valve stems and the arms. It's a normal sound and it's supposed to be there. If yours is louder than you think it needs to be then you can check your valve lash and see if your gap is more than spec.

For a while after I built my engine I thought I had a rough idle because I have the 268 cam. For a few days I would ask around and troubleshoot but come to find out the cam is naturally going to make it rumble a little bit at an idle. My tick is also very noticeable because of the cam even though my valve lash is a little tighter than a stock 22re.
 
Last edited:
If you get a rattle or a chugging like a diesel, that's your timing chain slapping around. But the tick is the valve lash, and it's a beeyotch to get right. I know a guy that can shut them up, but his shop time is $125/hr so I just lived with it.

The best way I found is to get the motor hot, then do half the valves as quick as you can. Button it up, warm the motor back up, then do the other half. If you try and do them all at once, it'll cool down before you're done and half your valves will be out of spec and noisy.
 
I'm definitely thinking this is more than valves. I think you're right about the timing chain. All well, I got about $600 tied up in this thing so far so I don't think putting a timing chain in it will break the bank. It definitely has a diesel knocky sound, but not like a spun bearing or anything.
 
Mine has a diesel like tick but I am pretty sure it is the exhaust manifold or crossover. I don't here it on the top of the engine I hear it near the exhaust/ drivers door area. Not surprising my exhaust is pretty beat up. Solid and no rot holes but pretty rusted up and I am sure there is a small hole in it somewhere.
 
Mine's been making scary noises long enough that I don't really care anymore. If it was gonna break by now, it probably would have. Every once in a while I pull my valve cover off to make sure my drivers' side guide is still intact.
 
Yep I guess as long as it's running good just keep on trucking. I'm sure if it's was something catastrophic it would take long to finish it off.
 
DeclansDaddy said:
I'm sure if it's was something catastrophic it would take long to finish it off.
Click to expand...

If that is a timing chain rattle you're hearing, it might not take long to get catastrophic.

What happens is when you exceed the maintenance interval on the timing chain (90k), it starts to stretch. It will keep stretching until the timing chain sensor can't take up the slack any more. At that point one of a couple things will happen in short order, and they both bring the suck: 1) the timing chain breaks (or even just jumps a couple teeth), your valves and pistons get to be very good friends, and you need a new motor, or 2) the chain slaps against the drivers side timing chain guide, breaking it, and then rapidly wears a hole on the inside of the timing chain cover and the chocolate milkshake toasts your bearings and you need a new motor.
 
Yea I had a Nissan that wore a hole through the cover and filled the oil pan with coolant. Luckily I caught it in time and didn't lose any bearings. Call me cheap but I JB Welded the hole shut, put a new timing set on it and let her eat. Got another 100k out if it before it lost compression and I sold her. But I do plan on doing the timing chain anyways on my 4runner so hopefully that will fix the sounds I'm having.
 
Had a buddy's 22re snap the chain (no damage!). I have no way to contact the PO of my truck, so it's anyone's guess on when it was last replaced. The chain looks shiny and the plastic guides are still intact, but that doesn't tell the whole story. A bit of the cover was eaten away. My motor has 140k on it, so I'm thinking the first chain was replaced once that happened, and that the current chain has 60-80k on it.

That's no guarantee, so if I keep the truck past summer I think I'll get in there and replace it.
 
im assuming all of you have the 4 cyl? well i have the 3.slow. sucks dick. hate it. but, when i bought it, it did sound skinda like a diesel. took it to marlin crawlers and they adjusted the valves to factory specs, and tightened the timing chain and replaced the water pumps and the valve gaskets. i got it back and it still sounds kinda like a dieswel and still has a tick. ive gotten used to it by now. i dont think itll ever go away.
 
Mine rattles like hell, but only from 2,800-3,500 rpm. It's only got around 20K miles on the re build, but I think mines a rod knock. It runs like a champ though and I'll run it till she lets go. Maybe that's the motivation I need to get on with my 1UZ swap.
 
Another cause for the "ticking" noise is if the valve cover is torqued down too
tight, you can actally feel the rockers through the cover.
 
dorton said:
Another cause for the "ticking" noise is if the valve cover is torqued down too tight, you can actally feel the rockers through the cover.
Click to expand...

Interesting. That may be the reason why the valve cover has rubber washers sandwiched in metal washers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 529 (members: 4, guests: 525)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,316
Messages
3,554,107
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top