Engine Ticking and then lost all power

I have a 96 Tacoma with 160k on it. Its a 5VZ-FE (V6). The problems started a few weeks ago with some slight ticking sounds while idling. If my truck was in neutral or park, or if I was stopped while in drive it would tick. The ticking would increase with the RPM's, but would go away once I started moving in drive. I researched it a little and a lot of people said ticking was pretty normal so I didn't think too much of it.

However yesterday on my way home from work (only a mile from my house, thankfully) I lost all power to the drive train. I would push the pedal and the RPM's would shoot up. I tried shifting to neutral and back and even tried 2nd gear after I slowed down enough, but nothing worked. After I got into the driveway I tried shifting to park and back, but that didn't work either.

As if that wasn't enough I tried to turn the truck off and back on, but it wouldn't start after that. When i try to start it, it almost sounds like an impact gun firing away. Here is a video of it, if it helps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEOwTb58PiA

Any ideas are appreciated. I am going to start by pulling the plugs and maybe do a compression check, just because it is easy to do, but I have a feeling it is more than that.

Thanks for your time guys!

 

Check battery voltage and connections. Almost sounds like a low battery.

 

Yeah, the battery died overnight while it was parked. There is a jump packed hooked up in the video, and the battery is on charge now. Ill go through the connections though. If it is that simple I would be very happy, but it doesn't explain the ticking that started.

Thanks!

 

Could be the alternator died and that was what was clicking. Were the lights dim at night?

 

You may have a broken flexplate(flywheel). Don't try to start the car anymore

 

yea, could be either of those or even a broke belt....if you know your belts good star with the others....flexplates do crack....not real common.

 

I don't recall the lights being dim, and didn't have any previous problems with starting. Also couldn't jump start it so I don't think its a battery issue.

All of the belts look good, so I'll look into the flex plate for the time being.

Thanks for all of the advice.

 

Would a broken flex plate keep the car from starting?

 

He's talkin 'bout your timing belt.

 

Yes. Ticking noise before it brakes....car dies right after it brakes and weird noise if u try to start the car are symptoms of a broken flexplate

 

sounds like your gona be dropping that tranny to me.

 

yea, but other symptoms don't add up...disregard.

 

Well I pulled off an inspection door to get a look at the flex plate based on these directions (for anyone else in the future)

https://mike-thomson.com/blog/?p=1842

The flex plate is torn apart and that's only the quarter of it that I can see.

Thanks for all of the help and now I have to decide if I wanna tackle this, or source it out.

I'll send pictures of it once I (or someone else) gets it out.

Thanks again!

 

the fact it went of gear is concerning aswell.

 

It's hard to tell in the pictures, but it looks like the inner parts that is bolted on is sitting in front of the outer part of the gear. There is no contact between the two, except that curled up corner that is hits as it comes around. Pictures should be attached.

 

Possibly "this" happened to your flexplate. Buy a new one from toyota. Don't intall an used flexplate. Trust me. I've been there. My isuzu rodeo broke flexplate 3 times with me insisting on installing a used one. Same symptoms as yours. I would take it to a reputable transmission shop to replace it and look around for other possible problems. My rodeo was just the flexplate

 

Yeah I imagine it will look similar or worse than that when I get it off.

I have 160k on that truck, and haven't done any major maintenance since I bought it 70k miles ago. Any recommended maintenance while I have the transmission off?

 

I am no mechanic,but I am sure someone here will help you with that. Good luck

 

You could change your rear main seal.....and trans. input.
This is the first time I've seen a Toyo. do this.
Oh well, they're getting old.

Since the transmission is off......I dunno if I'd go back w/ the Tq. converter....I dunno what your budget is so that's up to you....if it got damaged and pukes it's guts into the trans. (seen it) the trans. has to come back off and be disassembled to clean....and if that happens...then it doesn't pay to not rebuild.....etc,etc.

Like I said, they're getting old.