99 Taco 3.4 Auto ticking

My 99 Taco has started a ticking noise that has been driving me nuts to figure out what it is. It all started about two three weeks ago, roughly after I did the valve cover gaskets, and somewhat retightented my belts. Its a tick tick tick that sometimes is slow and most of the time is fast but not a super fast tick. And loud enough to hear even with my loudish muffler. The motor is a 99 with 230K original miles on motor and trans. I did the valve cover gaskets because they were leaking a little and tightened the belts because they were a little loose IMO. Just a couple days after I did both those It began ticking. I just changed my oil 5w-30 F Syn and have been every 4K miles. So the ticking only occurs after the motor is at full operating temp and when at idle, ticking goes away under load and when higher rpms. So belives me to think I have ruled out valve train. Sitting at a light it will tick and a few miles later it might not. Shifting between gears makes the ticking go up and down. Makes me worry it is the flex plate cracking, nut I took the little cover under the trans off and I could see no cracks but I cannot see far enough up to the bots to the crank where I have seen some flexplates on 5vz motor crack online. I have heard two people mention online that overtightening the belts will cause it to tick I re loosened the belts back to where they were and ticking continues. Additionally the truck is running perfectly fine and I sense nothing different since I got the truck. The truck has been running perfectly fine for as long as I have owned it. If anybody has any ideas or suggestions please go mention them. And last notes is that when I did the valve covers I think I dropped a small piece of plastic that broke off a wire loom into the intake. When I had finished doing the valve cover gasket job I started it and I heard something go tick tick like something being thrown around in the motor and I shut it off and restarted it. Never heard anything since besides the ticking that began but If it was plastic I assume it would melt or since being plastic not cuase any harm or such loud ticking. I should post a video soon also if that helps. Thanks

 

Ohh the plastic that fell into the intake is not good news, hopefully thats not it....but i was gunna mention it could be a cracked manifold if youre still running on one of them super shitty cast exhaust manifolds, that will cause a nasty tick tick....

 

I realize this is a year old....but Anthony, what did the tick end up being??? I got a real similar tick going on. thanks!

 

Sure its not the evap VSV valve mounted around left inner fender just behind battery? They're known to tick pretty loud.

 

Loose spark plug or flexplate

 

checked both of these again no luck.....like anthony the tick only starts after engine is warmed up. also like anthony the engine runs perfect! just loudly ticks!

 

A video with audio of the noise will be really helpful.

 

It ended up being the cracked flexplate. Pulled the trans and swapped it. It would continue to crack for how long I don't know some people a while some not.

 

well thats interesting! how did you figure that out? im gonna crawl under there and see if its obviously louder....thanks for replying after a year!
why do think it starts ticking after its warmed up??? gracias!

 

Just put my ear to a extension and heard where the noise came from the most and it was near the trans so I just pulled the trans. That I don't know

 

thank you, i'll do that!