You know, I wonder if you all are talking about the pulsation/knocking sound during acceleration at about 2k rpm's. It was really bad on my 2003 v6 at first. The stealership said that it was just spark knock and to run premium gas. Needless to say, after 5100 miles the sound has gone down considerably. I mean I can barely hear it. I usually need to focus well to hear it. I guess it might have been something that needed breaking in.

Does anyone know if that replacement manifold will be replaced by warrenty?

 

I think the only similarity would be they used thinner manifolds on the 4Runner and RX. I don't think they share any parts because the 4Runner is a 4.0 and the Rx is a 3.3 I think.

The RX goes from about $34K-$45K so it's a bit more than the 4Runner.

 

No, Mish definitely has something different. I hear that "knocking" during acceleration but that's not it. Otherwise my V6 is quiet, Mish's is not.
To tell you the truth, I am very happy with the engine. I noticed that "rattle/knocking" goes away the harder you accelerate. Maybe the exhaust flow smooths out with more pressure.

The level of noise from the truck feels luxury car quiet which is astounding when you consider the huge, open box the interior is. This thing is miles ahead of any other truck I've ever owned. It honestly reminds me of my old Lexus in many ways (radio, lcd displays, controls, even the shape and angle of the A pillars)

Take a careful listen to the Taco, Nissan's 3.3 or any other truck engine. It's a rattletrap! Not to offend owners of those trucks as I actually like the chug-along truck engine noises but the only reason certain normal engine noises are noticeable is because the 4Runner is so...refined. Just my opinion.

 

Hi Mish...Are you still having the engine noise in your 03 ..if fixed what was done..Reason: I am starting to develop a noise also..
http://home.nycap.rr.com/baje/lizzy.htm

 

Nice rig sil23, that grey was my second choice, had a 93 exploder with very similar paint. Unfortunately, that color paint fractured and peeled and rusted on me in 7 years. So I'm sure you can understand why I didn't go for it again. Probably will not happen with yours but I couldn't risk it, I do love that color and never got tired of it. Ford of course will do nothing to fix it, that's why I bought a Toyota! But now, I have this god awful clacking coming from my sport v6, Should have had a V8!!!haha
Anyway, I think they were going to try to re-shim valvetrain on Mish's v6 and we are all eagerly waiting to hear the results, so just hang in there. I strongly suggest reading the entire thread if you have not. But to summarize, from my standpoint anyway, the injectors clack away all the time, but this noise we are speaking of is much worse, in my case, under acceleration, this motor sounds like a diesel. I call it clacking. It is not pre-detonation nor an exhaust leak, just loud valves we think. Please let us know in great detail, what you are hearing.(And be sure to bitch at Toyota as well!) we need as much documentation as possible.

 

Mine is very quiet at idle but on accelaration I hear like a pinging sound that goes and comes..It's heard mostly on hard accelaration...Let's hope they find the problem soon..
PS..I was standing next to a F250 and I realized that the sound that I am getting is similar to a disiel engine - not as loud though.

 

I've heard some V6 and they where quiet but this thread is killing me

 

Thanks for your input EDGE...by the way, how's that v8 smell?

 

Does the engine noise sound like detonation pinging? When you accelerate from a constant speed, does the pinging increase than decrease, only to return when you establish a cruising speed again?

 

Does the engine noise sound like detonation pinging? When you accelarate from a constant speed, does the pinging increase than decrease, only to return when you establish a cruising speed again?

 

When I I just can't understand how all these members can be saying my engine makes weird noises and Toyota will not do anything about it, I've heard some V6 4Runners and they where quiet, so if guys are complaining of weird noises somethings messed up, at least I think so.

To bad these are not Ford V6, at least they would blow up by 20k and you you get a new engine

I keep the rear window closed and don't have the problem

 

My V8 smells like a bed of roses.

 

the engine noise sounds like detonation pinging? When I accelarate from a constant speed, the pinging increases then it is not heard at cruising speed - only when I accelerate again.

 

There is probably a couple of different issues here. I spent part of last Thursday with the Toyota factory rep and the service manager from my dealership. The rep, using language us layman will never understand, says the tapping/ticking sound (above and beyond the fuel injectors tapping away) is "percussive resonance in the exhaust manifold caused by valve clearance. Valves are shimmed within an acceptable range and those at the far end of the tolerance are causing this resonance". He also explained this is why some do and some don't. He indicated any "fix" is up to the individual dealers and they can then submit the repair order for "consideration by Toyota" but that the valves in the 4.0L engine "never need adjusting, that's why we use the shimming process". In other words "it's normal". There is also an issue with the sound of the exhaust itself which is loud upon acceleration, especially if you are next to something with the window down. This is "normal" according to Toyota because they created a tubular type exhaust header for better torque although there may be a running change for 2004 to either a thicker walled manifold or a cast affair. but there are no plans to retrofit this to earlier models. He seemed pretty firm about this issue and that the dealership would not have any authorization to change out an exhaust system since it doesn't affect the reliability of the engine and made that noise when I test drove it (which I never heard because I had the windows up and the salesman yammering).

The dealership has basically said BS about the valve noise, bring the truck in and they will shim the valves whether Toyota pays for it or not. They did indicate the exhaust note was something I was stuck with which doesn't bother me because you can't hear it with the windows up and it's just the nature of the beast. I'll probably take it in next week for the adjustment (the mechanic seems to think he knows exactly which cylinder needs shimming) and see if that doesn't cure the problem. I wouldn't really care except that some day I may wish to trade this vehicle and I can just hear the dealership now "we have to deduct thousands of dollars because of the engine "problems" in your truck".

Whether any of this is true or not remains to be seen. The rep was very cordial overall and this was obviously not the first time he's been faced with this issue. Thank heavens the dealership is concerned about customer satisfaction is willing to step up to the plate to make me happy. I'll let the board know the results of the shimming process and hopefully those with the problem will have an answer or we'll hear from Mish about what success he had with getting them adjusted.

 

Thanks, that was one of the best posts I've ever read, very informative. I may even print that one and take it to my dealer as I need this fix badly!

 

Hi Tom..
Is toyota saying that the exhaust problem on the V6 is normal.
If that's so..should all 03 V6's be loud on acceleration??
Does anybody in this forum have a 03 V6 that is not loud on accelaration..
Thanks guys..

 

Toyota probably wouldn't agree that loud is the right word, more throaty is how they would describe it. But yes, it was my impression from talking to the rep that they were all "throaty" on acceleration and this would mesh with what several of the car mags said about the exhaust note of the V6 ("louder, higher pitched than the V8 but not objectionable"). Some people would probably not even notice (it's really not audible with the windows up) and I don't find the sound intrusive - the tapping yes, the exhaust note, no.

Tom

 

Greetings fellow valve clickers!

I was on vacation last 9 days and had to deal with other, more important issues while checking out body lifted Toyota Tacomas on Hawaii.
As I expected service manager of that other dealership (ToyotaDirect.com) did not call me back, probably because he spoke to Toyota Corp. and was told to take a dive, or simply forgot. There is also another possibility of him being dead, but I hope not.
I will call there tomorrow and will most likely end up with him being off, so Tuesday is the day than.
Meanwhile I filed for an arbitration, because I have to according to Toyota's agreement (which I signed while buying my truck), they have to arbitrate the car first and only if I win, or loose I can go further with the law suit if I am not satisfied.


About the noise:

Acceleration noise is NORMAL, I heard it while test driving and knew what it was, it is THE NATURE OF THE BEAST and I am fine with it.

Diesel like valve tapping noise on the left is NOT NORMAL and I do not care what Toyota has to say about it, if it is not fixed (which is too late for now) they will have to eat this truck back. No valve rattle is normal, no engine vibration is normal and I am sorry for being fairly experienced with cars and noticing things that common buyers do not notice, but my $30K should be enough to provide me with nicely built motor, even with all the inflation and profit thirst Toyota seems to be facing lately.

 

I got back in town and called that service manager who was gonna order shims and fix the noise, but after talking to Toyota he all of the sudden diceded not to do that, instead he wanted to listen to my truck again today. After listening to my truck with his master technician they stated that noise is gone and now it is normal injectors tick, but only on the left side. I guess I got silent type of injectors on the right bank

One way, or the other I am sick and tired of Toyota's games and will be treating this truck as loaner now, until it gets bought back. So I guess now I have savings account at Toyota bank, since they left me no choice.

Did anybody here get their valves adjusted by their local dealers, or all of us being ran around like that?

 

That's a great question Mish!
I have heard of a few people on this and other forums whom were going to get this shim fix but no one, and I mean no one has
responded saying they got it. I do believe Toyota screwed the pooch on this one and we will never have normal V6 characteristics as far as noise goes. Mine bothers me more every time I drive it. I was really counting on you paving the way for us,
but not to be. Good luck with that loaner, if I get anywhere, I'll let you all know.