2007 Solara 3.3 VVTi tick - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Ironictwist · 12-08-2010, 09:11 PM

Hello all, i have been searching online about a concern I have with my 2007 Solara. It's the SLE convertible with the 3.3 liter VVT-i engine. The car only has 50,700 miles on it but it has a ticking noise that starts AFTER the engine is warm. If you sit inside with the radio off you can hear it. Now i started noticing this around July of this year (2010) and it was very faint, you couldnt hear it unless you were listening for it. Now its louder and you definatly know its there. Its starting to scare me because i take really good care of this car, it still looks brand new inside and out. i check the oil once a week and get it changed every 3000 miles with conventional 5w-30. I was thinking about switching to full synthetic to see if maybe it would quiet the sound.

I have been reading some about maybe a timing pulley problem? to me it sounds like its low on oil, thats exactly the sound it makes. Any help is appreciated!

EDIT: Sorry if this has been addressed elsewhere, if anyone has any links to topics about this problem i will delete this thread.

gdanaher · 12-09-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironictwist

I have been reading some about maybe a timing pulley problem? Unlikely

to me it sounds like its low on oil, thats exactly the sound it makes. I hope you are wrong about that one. The sound of low oil is that of destroyed rod bearings with massive knocking. A ticking sound after the oil warms up is more like a sticky valve lifter. There are additives you can give the engine to de-crud lifters and quiet them, but don't add anything until you know what the problem is. Ask someone with an ear trained better than yours.

Ironictwist · 12-09-2010, 10:50 AM

I have an appointment today to take it to the dealer and get it looked at. The person on the phone said it is not normal for the 3.3L to be ticking so we are going to get it looked at. Ill update later today on what the dealer recommends.

EDIT: the sound is just a tick, tick, tick sound, it sounds like valves ticking, its not really loud at all.

Ironictwist · 12-09-2010, 11:09 AM

The oil on the dipstick is so clean i have a hard time getting an acurate reading on it. Idk if that would have anything to do with crud on the lifters, its been about 1500 miles since the last oil change so the oil isnt brand new. I work at an oil change facility like jiffy lube and i have seen what really bad used oil looks like. Ill wait to see what the dealer says before i decide to get an engine flush.

Ironictwist · 12-09-2010, 05:18 PM

Back from the dealer now, The mechanics said the sound is indeed normal and its coming from the fuel injectors. It sounds really loud to me... to be able to hear the fuel injectors from the inside of the vehicle...