98 Tacoma 3.4 engine tick

I just got a 98 Tacoma Xtra Cab SR5 4x4 with the 3.4 and 5 speed. It seems to run great except that it has an engine tick at idle and when accelerating. I can't hear the tick when decelerating. I just got it on 1/10 and had to replace the starter contacts last night. I haven't had a chance to isolate exactly where the tick is located due to the 0* outside the last few days.

The previous owner said the tick seemed to start when he replaced the coil pack on the middle cylinder on the passenger side, but there are no trouble codes or check engine light being on, and it doesn't seem to have an engine miss either.

The previous owner thought it might be a lifter tick, but I'm not sure if that's a correct statement or not.

Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

 

Well...Tacomas are notorious for the 'taco tick' sound they make, been around through the 1st and 2nd gens of Tacomas. But it sounds like what you're describing might be different if it's loud enough to hear when accelerating. Any chance you could post a video/recording of the sound?

 

Could be an exhaust leak.

 

Probably this. It's really only audible when in the quiet cabin. All mine have made some kind of ticking exhasty noise from inside the cabin. If it's otherwise running fine and good MPG don't worry about it.

 

You can hear it pretty well from outside the pickup when it is idling, but like I said before, it doesn't seem to affect the engine running, because the tach is not fluctuating in rpm's and it idles really smooth. I will get a short video of it idling later and post it so you can hear it.

 

I've been trying to trouble shoot a loud tick on my 96 and I'm pretty sure it's just a noisy fuel injector. Also had to replace the middle coil pack on passenger side as a spark plug blew up and completely melted the coil

 

"TACO TICK" LMAO first time I heard that!

 

really? it's a pretty common phrase around the forum, lol.

 

I had a pretty decent exhaust leak on my Taco from where the headers bolted to the down pipe. Sounded like my motorcycle going up hills. Kinda miss that sound now, it was unique.

 

ignore it

5vzfe is unstoppable

but take a video with audio and post it here, so we can listen to
how loud it is vs the rest of engine

my own 5vzfe has had some type of tick since...oh about since 10,000 miles to 234,000 miles
and I keep ignoring it. thing runs mint

 

that and the "toyota VSV tick" that sounds like a god damn rod knock

 

If you mounted the VSV on rubber cushions do you think it would help?

 

Where exactly is the VSV mounted at?

Thanks.

 

One that likes to tick (intermittently alot times) is the one for the evap system. They moves it around a but but its probably near drivers side of engine bay.

 

I have the same one!

 

Mine is mounted to a bracket on the drivers side inner fender well. It's already rubber mounted. Prolly why I don't hear it..

 

Youd hear it if it was acting up


Something like this

https://youtu.be/jn1OoNB28DE

Or

https://youtu.be/wlLB2-VgPuM

 

I can feel it clicking.

 

Hory chet. Is this the noise that has been absolutely driving me nuts but is so random? Wait a minute... I haven't noticed it anymore. It only did it at freeway speeds and during the summer. As temps outside cooled, it hasn't done it in a long time now. Crazy, really? That's the vsv? The one to the egr? I swapped in a new Aisin one over the summer. Hmmmm...

 

Oops, just kept reading and now see that it might be the vsv to the evap. Huh.