AH64ID

So its been a heck of a day... All today I had to have my '03 runner towed to the stealership due to a loud knock and a rich raw fuel smell... I found out I am off to Afghanistan in 3.5 weeks, and my 92 broke.

Since the runner was in the shop my wife was driving the '92(22RE, 5spd, 160,250miles). She came and picked me up from work and we were headed home. All of a sudden when she gave it fuel there was a knock. I figured it was one of the spark plug wires come loose again... So we pulled over, made sure the wires were tighe, one was loose, and we started driving again, as soon as there was a load it was knocking, baddly, again. So we pull over, and for the second time today I called AAA.

Listening to the knock underhood it seems as if its coming from the 4th cylinder. It runs really rough at idle, but doesnt knock. When I rev it, or put a load on it, it knocks really bad. I can remove the 4th cylinder spark plug wire and nothing changes. i remove the others and it stumbles and dies.

This weekend when wheeling (I must praise the girl since I drove 1100 miles this weekend, about 200 in 4lo, and wheeled the piss out of her..then made it home before she broke), if I let it idle for 5-15 minutes, once warm, when I got back in and drove it would burn a ton of oil for about 20 seconds. But only when it would idle for 5-15 minutes. Not sure if its related, but figured I would throw it out. It also would idle really high (1,800) sometimes, like it was warming up, but it was warm. Maybe unrelated, but I dont know.

Here is a video of the sound....




Please help, I am about 20 minutes from calling Enterprise to rent a car, since the 03 is still in the shop, they didnt even have time to diagnose.

trx125

It hard to tell, but it doesn't sound like a rod knocking. Iit sound like it is in the top end! I would pull the valve cover off and look at the rocker arms, see if one is broken or if the adjuster came loose and backed off. Didn't you adjust the valve this past weekend? I would check them. I have had the lock nut back off, the the adjuster back off and it tap real bad. It will skip and misfire when the valve won't open all the way! I would be willing to bet it is in the top end and not the bottom! Just my worthless .02!

AH64ID

I agree that it sounds in the top end. I pulled the valve cover off when I was waiting for the tow truck. Everything looked fine. I didnt get time to adjust the valves this past week, but its been 40K. Could that cause the problem? But I would think if that was it, it would have been gradual...not from one second to the next.

trx125

Not if the nut came loose they will back off pretty quick! I know I had to fish one of the nuts out of the bottom of a Honda Accord once! Shop adjusted the valves and didn't tighten the lock nut good!

trx125

I listened again and it really sounds like a loose rocker arm beating around on the valve! Valves and rocker arm noises are high pitch(tone) ticking, rods have a low pitch knocking! You would here a rod knocking all the time(I have never heard a rod the knocks intermittently). I have slung a few rods through the side of the block and oil pan in my day!

AH64ID

Valve cover off again, all looks normal. My thought too is top end... but what about a wrist pin? Really Pissing me off... Both of my rigs...both toyotas... are broken!!!

Elton

mine did the same thing it started as the rocker arm knock then the timeing chain wore a hole in the cover then all helll broke lose so it pretty much needs a new motor now

trx125

Look normal? Have you tried moving all the rocker arms to see if any are extremely loose and such! It could be wrist pins. But doesn't really sound like it! It is hard really hear good from the video! Are the timing guides broke? Did the oil light come on or pressure drop?

Elton

ya move the rocker arms i had 2 that broke .....dont run it any more mine lasted about 20mins before she died

snap-on

im not much help with the 4 bangers but you should be able to get yota to give you a loner while the 03 is in the shop!

AH64ID

So, I pulled the plugs to look at them. 3 and 4 aren't bruning as clean as 1 and 2. In the pic 1 is left, 2, 3, then 4.



I played with the rocker arms and they feel as normal as they can. Its two cylinders so could it be a HG? and the clacking be similar to hydrolock from coolant. I did loose coolant, about 6 cups. But I was on some steep inclines and it could have leaked out the resivoior.

Hopefully the plugs will help with diagnosis.

Thanks for all the help, and no loaner on the 03, just a rental...which I will be getting.

trx125

Were they wet? Try and spin the motor over with the plugs out and valve cover off! check for normal valve train operation and see if 3 or 4 cylinder spits any water out. I would pull fuel pump relay to keep gas from blowing out the cylinder! You may have a bent valve! Just keep looking!

trx125

3 and 4 look carbon or oil fouled. did you check the insulators on the plugs? I have seen them crack and make a exhaust leak, ticking noise!

AH64ID

The plugs were dry, and the pistons looked dry too. I did pull all the plugs and spin the motor, all looked okay. I put them back in..

Last time it was running, I did notice that when I pull the spark plug wire on 3 or 4 there is no change. If I pull it on 3 and 4 there is only a very slight drop in rpm and smoothness. If I pull 1 or 2, the motor stubles and dies... So 3 and 4 are running very weak, but are sparking...kinda

I guess I may be having it towed to the stealership too.. .I dont know any decent mechanics as I have only been here a few months....

I really do appreciate all the help....

AH64ID

Oh yeah, the plugs are new as of last week, and the resistors still looks new.

It is most certainly a metal/metal clank. I dont know about a bent valve, only since 3 and 4 are having similar problems. If it was just one hole I would think it possible.....

I really wonder if a HG could do this?? I did notice that my 10 day old coolant is clouded... shouldnt be clouded in 1400 miles should it?? The years old coolant I replaced wasnt clouded.

trx125

Can u post a video of the motor turning over with the valve cover off and the plugs out? close ups of the valves and rockers if you can?

trx125

Too bad you live so far away!

AH64ID

I may be able to tomorrow...dark now and the truck is on the street. Probally going to have AAA come and tow it in the dealership for a raping diagnosis.....

AH64ID

I lived much closer last year, Enterprise :-)

trx125

My wife has an cousin that is a flight instructor in the air force that lives in enterprise!