Possible engine issues-any ideas?

I have the 2.7 engine with auto transmission. The engine shakes periodically (has been doing it for some time) but it drives fine even with the engine shaking. After a while the engine shaking goes away. It has now started to make a ticking noise and I also hear what sounds like something metal clanging against something every once in a while. The ticking and metal clanging are periodic. They go away and it drives fine.

I took a look at the engine this weekend and it seems to be leaking oil from what appears to be the housing for the timing chain. I am thinking that that the metal clanging noise is the timing chain hitting something. Maybe one of the guides broke and the chain has some slack causing it to hit something? Just my guess.

I was going to try and record the noise it makes but it doesn’t do it in park or neutral (as soon as it is put in park or neutral the engine seems to quit shaking and the noises go away).

Anyone got any thoughts on what may be wrong with it. Probably something serious. The vehicle still runs though.

 

I have posted videos that demonstrate the ticking sound (from inside the cab). Any ideas? You can't really hear the metal clanging noise in this video, just the ticking.

 

http://youtu.be/nsNqjDEATy4

 

http://youtu.be/8f0Qiieg7Ek

 

I had the same kind of noise with my 2000 2.7L. Turned out to be a broken harmonic balancer (see attached).

Toyota had some crankshafts that were not drilled and tapped deep enough to allow the harmonic balancer bolt to tighten down all the way, it would bottom out in the hole.

Long story short, I took off the accessory belts one by one and ran the truck to isolate the noise, finally grabbed the harmonic balancer pulley and clunk clunk clunk.

This will also cause the oil leak you describe as it wipes the seal on the timing chain cover.

 

Haha everybody that post videos of their dash seems like they all need gas

 

Id also vote to check the motor mounts.

 

My first thought was motor mounts. That would have explained the shaking I was feeling. I looked at them didn't see any cracks or breaks. I guess that is all you can look for in a motor mount huh?

 

That makes great sense. Is it something that can be seen visually (broken pulley) without running the truck?

It could be one of the pulleys. I took a look at them and didn't see anything but you really can't tell anything unless the belts are off.

 

my motor kind of shakes at idle. its like an intermittent dull throbbing that you can feel slightly every couple of seconds. But i have the v6. always meant to post a thread about it but never got around to it.

 

If it's a balance issue i would look into the balance shafts in the lower end could be a loose chain or etc. good luck with it.

 

If you take all the belts off the engine and just reach up from underneath (with the engine off) and grab a hold of the harmonic balancer and pulley. If it moves you've located the problem.

 

Nows as good a time as any to replace the belts.
Anyone know where there is a good write up on how to remove and reinstall the belts?

 

This video allows you to hear everything that i hear in the cab of the vehicle including (if you listen carefully) what sounds like something metal vibrating around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgNJmPWe3wA

 

me too

 

Ok took it to the local Toyota dealer because I did not have time to work on it and it was getting worse. You were exactly right. They said it was a broken harmonic balancer. Of course they quoted me $650 to fix it. OUCH!!!!!