What is that NOISE?!?

I've got a 2006 Pre Runner with about 160k miles on it. As of the last few days I get this weird whining noise from the engine (I can't locate where it's coming from) and have no idea what it is.
It doesn't happen every time I start the truck, but when it does happen - it starts when I start the truck and the pitch goes higher and louder the faster I go. It almost sounds like the belt, but it isn't. It's more of a loud, high-pitched ticking.
On the times it does happen, it seems to slowly go away after driving for a few miles.

Anyone have any ideas of what this could be, or where I would start looking?

 

for kciks, look under your glove box at the blower motor.

 

Might want to look at changing the belt and pulleys. That's what it sounds like to me. All said and done, it'll take about 30 minutes of your time.

 

Can you do a little video . Its difficult diagnosing sounds over a keyboard

 

If I were to take a guess, this is what I would pick.

When my belt was 11 years old, it started “squealing” or “chirp” on cold mornings when I first started the truck.
I replaced the belt.
I should have also replaced the idlers as well, but I didn’t.
So far, the noise has not come back.

 

Aw, mom you're just jealous its the beastie Boys.

 

https://youtu.be/-P-y4IVsl4M
here’s my truck starting and you can hear the noise. When I’m driving I hear it when I’m on the gas, when I let up it stops. I thought, maybe the bearings in the drive shaft? But then again, I hear it when I start it and that not moving then. Any other ideas?

 

Honestly it almost sounds rattle-y and not really RPM dependent. A loose heat shield or a stuck pebble would be easy to check for, and fix

 

Check the heat shield above the cat on the drivers side.
Kind of sounds like that.

 

Agree with others but I would take that your tacoma noise over my '98 Jeep wrangler 4 cyl "normal" sounds any day of the week.

 

Another vote for cat shield

 

So I got under the the truck and took the heat shield off and got about 5 or 6 little rocks out of there. I thought that was it, but when I started the truck again the noise was still there. So I took it in to a local mechanic today and they said it appears to be the starter. And that the solenoid is making contact with the flywheel creating that sound. Hmm! Has anyone heard of that happening? I'll be getting it replaced next week.

 

The solenoid doesn't touch the flexplate, a drive gear does. If the solenoid doesn't retract the gear, there may be some kissing happening, but it's usually more grinding than ticking.

Next time it's making the noise, try tapping the solenoid housing briskly. If it immediately stops that may well be the problem. If it doesn't stop, it could still be the problem and the tap just didn't cause it to retract. However, you should be able to isolate the sound much better.

Be sure to ask the shop what happens if their diagnosis is incorrect? A starter replacement isn't hard, but it won't be cheap at a shop either.

Or a DIY might be in order. https://www.yotatech.com/how-tos/a/...-fix-the-starter-and-solenoid-contacts-416277

 

I have the same noise. Started with a grinding sound when I started it up. Was intermittent and is now all the time. Seems worse when truck is on a hill pointed nose down. Any resolution for you? I feel like its the flywheel and there is now way I am working on that DIY style.

 

Yeah it was my starter. I got it replaced and that solved the problem. Looking at the old one it was pretty obvious that the solenoid was hitting the flywheel as there were scratch marks all over it.

 

Thanks for the update

Good to hear you got it fixed.

 

That's number 2 for the day on starter problems.