Mechanical Failure

Aloha TW, it's been almost forever since I've posted a question.

Need brainstorming from you all.

My 06 PreRunner 4.0 has thrown me for a loop today. Had planned on taking a drive to the local Walmart. Jumped into the cab, turned the key.

As soon as I did that, the engine hesitated for a split second, and as it started, a very loud rattle clanging noise began. I immediately shut off the engine.

Now, the engine will not start. It will only try to turn over.

When I connected the OBDII reader, there are no codes present.

At a lost. I'm thinking problem could be anything - any internal moving part - timing chain, pistons, valves, lifters, etc. Milage is just under 180000.

Any ideas? Has there been any threads regarding this anywhere?

Thank you in advance. Happy President's Day!

 

When you say “try to turn over”
Does mean it cranks but doesn’t start.

Or doesn’t crank?

 

Cranks but won’t start

 

Have you looked under the hood at the belt drive, checked the oil, etc?

 

Just to be clear, the rattle clanging noise sounded metallic, as if someone threw tools into a washing machine.

 

My hunch would be possibly timing chain failure but it is rare on the 4.0 and I would expect it to have set a code.
Does it crank funny like low or no compression?

 

If it turns over without any drama I doubt any major parts inside broke.

 

@Dm93 short answer yes. Belt is tight. No signs of fluid leaks - yet. Oil is clean - just did a change in December.

 

@Dm39 - that’s my first thought - timing chain. But there’s no code. The crank is not slow (like when the battery or charging system is bad). It just tries but it doesn’t fire.

@Sharpish - crank turns over but will not start. Since it won’t start, I can’t duplicate the clanging noise.

 

If you have a helper pop the oil cap off and look down it with a light, have someone crank it and see if the cam is turning.

 

How about starter? If the starter failed on startup, could it have creates the clanging noise?

 

If the drive got stuck yes but it shouldn't cause a no start unless it's not physically turning the engine anymore.

 

Or the mechanical aspect of the alternator?

 

I’ll try Dm39 suggestion looking down the oil filler spout. Waiting fir the rain to let up.

 

WTH. So had the wife help me. Cranked the engine while looking down the oil spout. I could see the timing chain turning. Didn’t look like any problems.

THEN, had her do it again. Low and behold the engine started up. NO CLANGING NOISES.

What’s going on.

 

Checking to see if it overheats now - maybe water pump?

 

Could be a rat in there

 

Is the fan wobbling? Is the weep hole weeping? If not, then unlikely.

My guess is starter hung in the flex plate or flywheel.

 

Odd indeed, only thing I can think of is maybe the starter drive got hung up. If it was something on the belt drive I wouldn't think it would make that much noise at one moment and be silent the next, odd that it wouldn't restart though.