Ticking sound from engine (Mk3 1ZZ-FE)

[Mk3-MR2]

Since the weekend there is another sound now: very loud, coming from the bottom of the engine, sounds like a hollow steel cooking pot being scraped all around the inside wall with a metal stick like a spoon. Also sounds "higher" when revving up. Definately a rotational hollow sound. Does this both when idling and driving.

Ticking sound is still there, same symptoms as before, and it actually does occur A LITTLE when revving up in neutral as well.

Oil leak as pictured got maybe a little worse, maybe 4 drops of oil for every 50km driven.

No idea whether above 3 issues are maybe all related or not.
Fuel consumption, performance, gearshifing etc. are all still fine.
Oil level & quality fine. No idea whether the engine ran dry during previous ownerships.

Rod bearing / crank / rods?
Header gasket?
S-belt / timing chain tensioners or pulleys?
Gearbox?
Exhaust leak? (blocked the exhaust exit but sounds remain unchanged)

[Mk3-MR2]

If you look in reference section there is a video clip with noise, it's the very bottom clip:

 l viewtopic.php?f=46&t=12491 l

Rob.

As posted before, I think the sound is different... and my VIN is JTDFR320000039668 - according to the pages in the first two links there, does than mean my one was produced AFTER the affected Production Change Effective VINs?

[Ilogik]

If you look in reference section there is a video clip with noise, it's the very bottom clip:

 l viewtopic.php?f=46&t=12491 l

Rob.

As posted before, I think the sound is different... and my VIN is JTDFR320000039668 - according to the pages in the first two links there, does than mean my one was produced AFTER the affected Production Change Effective VINs?

I wouldn't post your vin online lol.

[Anonymous]

If you look in reference section there is a video clip with noise, it's the very bottom clip:

 l viewtopic.php?f=46&t=12491 l

Rob.

As posted before, I think the sound is different... and my VIN is JTDFR320000039668 - according to the pages in the first two links there, does than mean my one was produced AFTER the affected Production Change Effective VINs?

I wouldn't post your vin online lol.

I wouldn't copy it so the poster cant edit it either.

[markiii]

As posted before, I think the sound is different... and my VIN is - according to the pages in the first two links there, does than mean my one was produced AFTER the affected Production Change Effective VINs?

I wouldn't post your vin online lol.

I wouldn't copy it so the poster cant edit it either.

you just did   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

[DannyN]

Lol   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't post your vin online lol.

I wouldn't copy it so the poster cant edit it either.

you just did   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

I know,I was trying to be humorous.

[Anonymous]

I killed 1 engine and 1 tranny and I can say that I am 99% sure that this is timing chain tensioner.

[muffdan]

I killed 1 engine and 1 tranny and I can say that I am 99% sure that this is timing chain tensioner.

I've killed 5 engines and 2 transmissions and I can't say for sure  s:) s:)

seriously though I hope it is the tensioner, but if you said the sound wasn't coming from that part of the engine, then I can't see it being that.

[Mk3-MR2]

UPDATE 2010-01-27:

Car went in to Toyota Service Center. The new loud hollow noise was the tensioner pulley bearing that was going. Hasn't seized yet, but was probably about to do so soon. They also replaced the tensioner assembly.

The hollow noise is now gone but the original ticking sound is still there   s:? :? s:?  
So the two actually had nothing to do with each other.

- Oil leak: they could not determine the source since someone was so clever to wash the car (engine too) before going in for the service. So all oil evidence gone. But I showed them where it is and it looks like the one corner of the Top gasket is leaking a bit.
- Timing chain tensioner: I instructed them to specifically look at this. Apparently the tension seems fine because it employs "auto-tensioning".

As said, the original ticking sound is still there. I have actually thought of the exact way to describe the sound: exactly like that metalling pinking from old beetle engines (obviously just a bit softer). Gets louder as I proportionally floor the accelerator pedal. Very slight presence when engine is revved in idle (but not enough for me to determine exactly where the sound comes from). Sound comes definately from the bottom or bottom corner from the engine (bay) somewhere. When leaning over the back with the top down, and someone else driving, and accelerating, I cannot even hear it at all with my head over the top of the screaming engine. However, my driver hears it cleary echoing from rights-side out underneath the car. Sounds like a beetle. And only happens when the engine is warmed up. Performance & fuel consumption etc. all fine. Tried feeling air escaping from the exhaust when revving & idling. Not really felt anything. Holding my hand around the exhaust is also a bit difficult when accelerating... need to find a dyno maybe.

Any of these clues give a hint to anyone?

[muffdan]

Did Toyota not say something about the noise?

[benji89]

any new news about the ticking sound?
mine does the same (sounds like pinking apparently).
after 600 miles the CEL came on, but waiting on delivery of a code reader to check it out.

[Mk3-MR2]

Took the car to a dyno and exhaust specialist, both claim it is the exhaust making the ticking / zinging noise, due to either something loose somewhere, a leak, or a piece of broken cat stuck somewhere in the pipe or silencer. Dyno power run and CO tests all confirm engine output is 100% fine.

I'll likely leave it as it is, since the noise is nothing serious, merely annoying...

[diddy]

take the heat shield off from the bottom of the cat even though it looks firmly secure it can still cause the rattle as i found out just pull it off i bet that is the rattle.

[Mk3-MR2]

take the heat shield off from the bottom of the cat even though it looks firmly secure it can still cause the rattle as i found out just pull it off i bet that is the rattle.

Hi diddy, I'm not sure exactly which heat shield you mean. There are shields above the pre-cats (which I removed), and around them (which are still there but look quite secure). There's not really any shields below except underneath the exhaust pipe which is already away from the cats. The exhaust dealer did weld them with additional welding secure, but the noise is still there.

Could you maybe post a photo?

[diddy]

 l viewtopic.php?f=11&t=15561&p=190859&hilit=rattle+cat+rattle#p190859 l

[Mk3-MR2]

http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=15561&p=190859&hilit=rattle+cat+rattle#p190859

Great stuff, thanks diddy, it does look like this shield is the problem, going to try some clips and McGyvers tricks to sort it out!

[diddy]

you should be able to just pull it off i did.

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I have a MR2 2001 roadster, only bought 3 weeks ago, still under garage warranty...2 problems: 1st, ticking/tapping noise coming from engine, it is pretty constant, I have read simular on here, but not sure of how to pin point it, how do I check if it is the tensioner belt?, problem is to take it back to the garage it is over 300 miles away and the guy is saying that it may be wear and tear, and he may well not see it as a important problem, ummm it is to me..2nd, when I put the car in reverse and nearly come off the clutch with usual revs, it is making a strange grinding noise, the only way I could describe a simular noise, is when you have a car already running in idle, but then you accidentally turn the ignition key again and it makes an awful noise...the garage have said if I can identify the problems and they are simple they will pay for them to be repaired locally, but I took the car to a local garage and the guy said he could not identify the noise without looking deeper and the garage would not pay for this..so basically I'm hoping to get some ideas..go back to my wonderful local garage, ask them to exhaust the common mr2 possibilities and hopefully get it all done without having to drive 600 miles, with the possibility of the garage putting it down to wear and tear and if it is not effecting the car performance he said he would not repair it at this time, but then if it developed into a problem he would then want the car back...personally dont think driving it that far is a good idea with these problems...REALLY SAD AT THE MOMENT AS I LOVE MY MR2 SO MUCH...thank you lots Mia x

[mrzwei]

How many miles on the car?

[Anonymous]

Call the garage, tell them you are bringing it back and they either fix it or refund you, wear and tear does not happen in 3 weeks.
Car is not fit for purpose so involve trading standards if need be.

[Anonymous]

Hi, thank you both for getting back to me..the car had originally when bought 3 weeks ago done 67, 000, I have done 500 miles since them, this includes my 300 mile drive home...

The guy has already said, that he will send it to his mechanic guy, but if it comes back as just noise and it is not effecting the performance he will give it me back and see if it developes into anything..think I need to talk to trading standards...it will cost me £80 in petrol to take it back to him, round trip...ummmmm so sad....thanks Mia x

[Anonymous]

Where are you and where is the garage?

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I am in Cornwall, garage is in the Midlands..Mia.

[mrzwei]

Two things, you need to check the oil level, don't know how many miles you do each day but if it's quite a few then check it every day for a bit. There is only a big problem if the level is going down. Secondly, does the noise get worse as you rev the engine?