Low tire pressure and 'clicking' noise

[molocono]

The day I bought my 2004 4Runner Sr5 (October '03) the low tire pressure light started coming on. Two days later I took it to the dealer to get my alarm installed and they told me they fixed the problem with the tire. I figured it just needed air.

Well, after about a month the low tire pressure light started coming on and off every now and then, until it remained on. One day I realized that my left-rear tire was under the recommened PSI so I added some air. The light turned off, but about a week later it came on again. The tire's PSI dropped again. So anyways, I've been filling up the tire and days later the light comes on. The thing that worries me is that this started happening back when I bought the car.

Anyone have this problem? Will the warranty cover this?

One more thing, I tend to here this 'clicking' noise when I accelerate. It's not loud, but it's there. And the more I accelerate the faster it clicks. Is this normal?

 

[LLPJ95]

I am no expert, but I think the clicking sound and your low tire pressure may be linked.

Did you ever consider that maybe a piece of metal could be stuck in your tire?? Like a nail? That would account for the low pressure, and the clicking when you accelerate.

Either, look over the entire tire to see if you find something, or get rid of the tire. Sometimes when you tell a mechanic that a light isn't working, he just changes the bulb...when there probably is a short...when the bulb goes out next week, back you go to your mechanic, where he changes the bulb again.

You told the mechanic the pressure was low, he filled it with air, instead of looking for a leak.

Good luck!

 

[4Runner4UGA]

What is the weather like where you are at, it sounds that maybe it could be the air temperature dropping, the colder the air the less pressure it will exert on the walls of the tire. I know that if I fill my tires up at 60F, and then it goes into the 20's the pressure in the tire has dropped enough to trigger the light. That is one possible explaination. But it may be that you do have a leak of some type in your tires. Is it only one tire or is it all of them? I am sorry I can't remember if you said anything about that.


Ok I noticed that you said it is only the left rear, then I would closely inspect the tire for nails/leaks and see what you can find out. It is a real possibility that there is a nail or something sticking out of the tire.

 

[molocono]

The clicking noise comes from the engine. It's sounds like if you flick the edge of a playing card.

Well, I just realized that my tire is at 22PSI. For some reason I thought the recommened tire pressure was 22, but I guess it is really 32.

And another thing, some kids in my neighborhood were deflating tires. So maybe I just never brought it back up to 32. I'm gonna do that and if the light starts coming on again, I'm off to the dealer.

 

[4Runner4UGA]

As far as the clicking goes you wouldn't happen to have the V6 would you?

 

[molocono]

2004 SR5 V6 4x2, why?

 

[toybox]

The clicking in the V6 engine is a known problem.

 

[molocono]

Is there anything I can do about it?

 

[toybox]

I'm not sure as I have a V8 but I think I heard that you can have some kind of spacers installed at the valves that will correct it. Look it up in the TSB's or ask your dealer if he is aware of a fix for the known clicking sound in the V6.