Ticking sound after warm up...Odd.

S

Stallion Motors

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First off sorry this might be a long read, i searched for other solutions, and came up short. Here we go.

1997 T4r with 188k on it. Last week while sitting at a light on my way home noticed what sounded like valve/lifter tick. This truck has been overly quiet since purchased so any sound is alarming. With the hood up and my ear to each valve cover i don't think it is valve/lifter related. You can't hear it while driving, only at idle. It doesn't seem to speed up or get worse at higher rpms. At first startup there is no noise, it seems to occur after 10-15 minutes of driving. Here is the odd part, if i shut it off after 10-15 minutes of driving and restart the ticking doesn't restart for another 5-10 minutes. Any thoughts here???

TL;DR-truck ticks from somewhere after warming up, shut it down while ticking and restart it seems to go away for a little bit.

thanks,
tom
 
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First off sorry this might be a long read, i searched for other solutions, and came up short. Here we go.

1997 T4r with 188k on it. Last week while sitting at a light on my way home noticed what sounded like valve/lifter tick. This truck has been overly quiet since purchased so any sound is alarming. With the hood up and my ear to each valve cover i don't think it is valve/lifter related. You can't hear it while driving, only at idle. It doesn't seem to speed up or get worse at higher rpms. At first startup there is no noise, it seems to occur after 10-15 minutes of driving. Here is the odd part, if i shut it off after 10-15 minutes of driving and restart the ticking doesn't restart for another 5-10 minutes. Any thoughts here???

TL;DR-truck ticks from somewhere after warming up, shut it down while ticking and restart it seems to go away for a little bit.

thanks,
tom
Click to expand...
Weird. Today I am also chasing what you describe
'97 3.4 with 192k.

There seems to be 2 components to the sound I've got; One is a "bright" tick, but faint in volume (you've got to listen for it with no radio etc). I agree that it is not always present.

The other sound is more hollow, much like taping a finger on a small plastic box. This is also requires an effort to hear. I could hear it best when putting my ear to the central dash vent. This sound is always present, or at least I know what to now listen for now (my wife typically drives the 4runner).

I can't really pick out either of these sounds when looking under the hood.

When driving, both change in frequency with RPM, but as I've read in other threads the sound disappears or is drown out by fan roar or motor in general by the time it's at 2000k+.

Earlier today I found a thread suggesting the cause of the sound was the insulated boots on the coil packs somehow arc-ing. I don't doubt it happened, but over lunch was able to pull the drivers side plugs out and everything looked tip-top.

I haven't ruled out an exhaust leak, but not anxious to start that job yet.
 
Last edited:
same here

unfortunately, i may be in the same boat. bought a 02' sport edition 4 months ago, ran fine. did alot of baseline maintence (radiator, timing belt, accesory belts, plugs, wires, water pump, thermo, hoses, air fuel and oil filters). now i can hear a tapping after start up. granted its been pretty cold here lately, (30's) and i can almost pinpoint the noise to the rear bottom of the engine. i build/maintain subarus and i know they get flexplate problems in the upper mileage. im wondering if this is the case with the 4runner? i did change to synthetic oil, but i dont think that has anything to do with it. any ideas?
 
napstermike said:
unfortunately, i may be in the same boat. bought a 02' sport edition 4 months ago, ran fine. did alot of baseline maintence (radiator, timing belt, accesory belts, plugs, wires, water pump, thermo, hoses, air fuel and oil filters). now i can hear a tapping after start up. granted its been pretty cold here lately, (30's) and i can almost pinpoint the noise to the rear bottom of the engine. i build/maintain subarus and i know they get flexplate problems in the upper mileage. im wondering if this is the case with the 4runner? i did change to synthetic oil, but i dont think that has anything to do with it. any ideas?
Click to expand...

It's also been cold here in Denver, coincidentally when I first noticed the "tick".
Mine is a 5-speed so not flexplate related.
 
lol. another one of these threads. I think the click is more and more common as all these vehicles age. Could be a million things, shims out of spec, header leak, exhaust leak, hair line crack in the block... arching spark plug.... anyone else wanna add something else I didnt mention. lets get this thread 10pgs long so it finally becomes a sticky!:yuck:.....................:sniper:
 
Adding to the 10 pg goal...
I was in the garage when the wife got home last night in the 'runner - from outside, you cannot hear any odd sounds, it's like a sewing machine.
 
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