2018 Tacoma SR5 engine tick / rattle

Need some advise, I just purchased a 2018 Toyota Tacoma SR5 with the 3.5L V6 and 6 speed automatic transmission. I’ve noticed since about the 3rd day I’ve owned the truck that there seems to be a metallic type ticking sound while accelerating both when the engine is cold and hot. I hear a ticking / knocking at idle after warm up which I’m reading are the self cleaning injectors but the sound never stops although I haven’t let it idle long enough for the injectors to completely cycle which I also read can last up to 10 minutes.

Any way the sound at idle seems to speed up but lessen in noise a bit with acceleration from a stop, most noticeable at around 1000-2000 revs, can’t hear it at higher speeds on the highway, ECT and pressing the gas harder doesn’t help, best way I can describe it is a diesel like sound or an engine that needs valve adjustment, I’ll try to get audio up later.

The truck only has 400 miles on the odometer.

 

Sounds like a vacuum pump.

 

The fuel injection cleaning cycle comes on at idle, you may be hearing that.

 

Did experience this noise with your 2016 SR5?

 

No... but multiple experiences with 2016s and 2017 Tacomas in my history as a service advisor for Toyota.

 

Ive heard the fuel injection system cleaning at idle, it sounds more or less like a sewing machine, I’m thinking the sound at idle that never goes away is something else. It’s also most noticeable while accerlating which leads me to believe it’s the vacuum pump

 

It may not be the vacuum pump, but I warrantied more than 10 of them for that description... none of them ever came back.... it is not a diagnosis, just from my experiences....

 

Take it in and find out what it is.

Its what warranties are for.

 

Is there a TSB out yet for the vacuum pump for the 2018? Of the trucks that were diagnosed with this problem were they all 2016s and 17s or were there 18s too?

I’ve also noticed the transmission tends to stumble and shudder on the highway around 40-55mph when feathering the gas pedal. The problem goes away when I reach higher speeds, I don’t know if these are related maybe?

 

Sounds like what I have going on. Sounds like the engine is suffocating and then catches its breathe for a half second.

 

There is a TSB for that

 

I'm unsure of any current TSB's with 2018 Tacomas as I no longer work at a Toyota dealership.

 

Does yours have the engine ticking at low speeds or the transmission shuddering / stumbling?

 

I’m going to take it to the dealership this week but I’m afraid I’ll just get the run around and the “it’s normal” or “we couldn’t duplicate the noise” answer.

 

Offer to wait with the vehicle, and ride with the technician to ensure you can point out the noise as you hear it. My $.02.

 

No, just sounds like an exhaust leak when I accelerate some times after the trucks driven a few miles.

 

I see this type of response a lot. If this is a prevalent issue, why bother buying something with a warranty?

Not picking at 'you', just a comment in general. Because so many folks use the 'it comes with a good warranty' line as part of the purchase rationalization.

 

Mine (2018 TRD Sport 4x4 V6 6sp AT) made the same noise until I had about 2500 miles on it. Sounded like lifter tick/sewing machine. If I listen closely I think I can still hear similar noise but nothing like prior to 2500 miles. Not sure what it was but it's much improved/gone now.

 

@op, can you get a recording of the noise. I have a weird noise from my engine too. got a thread going with a sample. Turn bass off to hear it best. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rattling-noise-when-accelerating.558281/#post-18233375

 

Thanks for the reply, so you’d hear the tick on acceleration from a stop and slow speeds or just at idle or both?

I took my truck to the dealer a couple days ago they said they couldn’t duplicate the noise, I tried to point out the noise to the technician with me driving but he said it was normal or perhaps the direct injectors, although he could not hear anything at all.

I test drove another ‘18 SR5 and it seemed to have the same noise with it both at idle and acceleration, perhaps ever so slightly quieter though with the brand new one, it had 11 miles on the odo.

I’ll still try to get some audio up for everyone but it’s difficult to capture