This Ticking is Ticking Me Off!

[eltut]

The sound is not very pronounced after being started and at idle. It increases in volume when accelerating and then quiets down when rpm's drop in the upper gears. It sounds like it is coming from the driver's side top of the engine towards the back. It seems to have started right after the truck slowed down, seem to shake and rattle a bit from underneath, and then stalled out (which it never does) at a stop light. Several warnings came up on the dash "high transmission fluid temp", "low oil pressure", and a couple others that went away too quick to read. I let the truck sit for just a minute and I was able to restart it. The check engine light is not on and it threw no codes. I replaced the crankshaft position sensor, which looks like that was a waste, just because that what was recommended after doing a bit of research. This is not the common wholesale ticking sound that usually come from the 3.5l of the 3rd generation, this seems more isolated. Ideas?

 

[Tomahawk Dog]

Have a qualified mechanic check it,
could be a transmission bearing and or torque converter related issue.
What year truck? How many miles?
Has the problem just showed up or been progressively getting more noticeable?

 

[eltut]

Have a qualified mechanic check it,
could be a transmission bearing and or torque converter related issue.
What year truck? How many miles?
Has the problem just showed up or been progressively getting more noticeable?

2019 Tacoma 3.5l with 94,000 miles and it just started after the stall issue that I mentioned. Thanks for your reply and I have it scheduled to go in.

 

[Dunskies]

I have the exact same issue right now. Stalled on the highway, same lights came up and now it has a nasty loud ticking which seems to be isolated to the driver's exhaust cam via stethoscope on the vvt solenoids. 163,000km. Wtf.

 

[rony711]

Ugh, that ticking and stall sound super annoying, especially with those random warnings. Since it started after the stall, it could be a lifter, cam, or timing issue. No codes makes it tricky, but taking it to a mechanic is smart. Let us know what they find, hopefully it’s an easy fix.

 

[Dunskies]

Ugh, that ticking and stall sound super annoying, especially with those random warnings. Since it started after the stall, it could be a lifter, cam, or timing issue. No codes makes it tricky, but taking it to a mechanic is smart. Let us know what they find, hopefully it’s an easy fix.

Visited Toyota 3 times 2 different dealers. One changed the fuel pump with no success eliminating the ticking. Also spent time diagnosing. All dealer visits cost me $3,600. After this mentioned the only way they can fix it is with a "costly engine teardown."

So I took it to a small local shop, they pinpointed the noise coming from the driver's rear valve cover area and recommended they remove the valve cover to inspect for $800. I refused since the funny thing is I already had both valve covers off and bled/changed ALL 24 hydraulic lifters myself. Noticed no visible issues while inside the valve train. After hearing this they weren't sure where to go with it.

I should also mention I found no metal in the oil or in filter(about 100km of ticking before all of this work). Checked compression and found between 180-200psi on all cylinders. Found cylinder 5 fuel cut while idling on port injectors diminishes the ticking about 70%, not yet sure what this could mean. Activated direct injectors to self clean and fluttering sounds normal. Changed spark plugs.

I then changed the oil with Valvoline restore and protect with fingers crossed, been running down the highway one gear lower keeping rpm around 2000-3000 here and there trying to boost oil pressure and maybe clean something out. Next weekend(about 1000km of driving) I'm going to inspect and change the oil filter. I really hope it's still clean. If it is I'm going to have a look under the valve cover again to see if I've missed something or if after 1000km there's finally visible signs of something failing. This is freaking SURREAL man

Anybody have any other ideas?? I'm stumped.