1990 3SFE fast ticking ONLY at idle.... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

chubcobear · 06-02-2009, 11:06 AM

And when warmed up. Never hear this fast ticking noise until engine warm.
In all other ways, engine and car run great, mileage, performance, et. al.
If I knew this engine had hydraulic valve lifters, I would say that it has a sticky lifter, but I know that it does not have hydraulic lifters. Anybody familiar with this engine to tell me where to start the search? Thank you.

white90dx · 06-02-2009, 01:35 PM

The fuel injectors should be the loudest thing on a good-running 3s-fe at idle. I would say it is a ticking noise... check that first. If everything else is good, you may just want to not worry about it unless it gets worse.

-Charlie

fredk · 06-04-2009, 06:21 PM

its the cam gears under the valve cover, the lash spring broke now your hearing gear clatter

Jimnist · 06-05-2009, 12:31 AM

Is that the one held by snap rings and spring(like a circlip) on the exhaust cam? Do you need to take the cam out to replace it or can it be done with the only the cover off?

Will it affect anything if it's left like that aside from noise at idle?

chubcobear · 06-06-2009, 09:05 AM

Fred,
Is the "lash spring" you mentioned in the post above the "camshaft gear spring" ( a snap ring) located on the passenger side of the camshaft (front)?
As Jim said above, will it eventually be a problem, or just more noise? Any help with this will be appreciated. Bear

chubcobear · 06-08-2009, 11:04 AM

perhaps we are talking about the tensioner spring (a "C" shaped spring) which is located between the exhaust cam gear and it's sub gear which is tensioned when the exhaust cam is installed. Perhaps he means that the tensioner spring broke or has stretched (when warm) so that the exhaust cam gear is ticking against the intake cam gear. Can that action made a ticking/knocking noise? If so, the warmer it gets, the noisier it gets. No noise when cold, but noise as the engine warms up and ONLY at idle. ???

fredk · 06-13-2009, 12:02 PM

its on one of the cam gears, look for split teeth on one of them and thats where its at

chubcobear · 06-15-2009, 11:08 AM

OK Fred,
I will open up the cam cover and check there. Thanks for the tip. Tom C. Bear