Ticking time bomb TICK TICK TICK: Spark plugs Alert Alert Alert!

[WMaher]

2002 LX 470 317k miles.

Looking for help identifying engine noise, I believe it might be loose spark plugs but I can't tell for sure and would like some input before proceeding. Recently purchased this, has a pretty solid maintenance record up until 250k miles or so. Engine ticks on cold start and when it's hot, ticking gets louder when engine is warmed up, and seems to tick faster with revs, however it seems like the ticking gets droned out by engine noise after 1500rpm or so. Ticking sounds like metal on metal, and I do not belive its from an exhaust manifold leak.

Carfax does not have any record of spark plugs being replaced. Today I checked 6/8 spark plugs (the 2 on the drivers side did not get checked), and all seemed tight, possibly too tight as I tried loosing and they didn't budge as easy as spark plugs have in the past for me (possibly seized?). I have a link below to 2 videos, videos were taken after driving the car on the highway for 3 1/2 hours. My next step was going to be removing spark plugs and inspecting threads but wanted to check here in case someone thinks I might have seized plugs and need to tread carefully. Any input/advice would be awesome.

 

[dace voit]

That ticking doesn't sound that bad to me but is definitely evident. I hear some kind of a knock too but may be from something in the rotating perpheral assembly like a pulley, etc. If you don't know the history of the plugs and question them, change them out regardless. If they appear seized, you can put some PB Blaster or the like in the wells and let them soak overnight to loosen the gunk in the threads. BE CAREFUL when removing them. You may have to walk them in a bit if they get stiff before trying to loosen again, back and forth to loosen them.

 

[Bisho]

Really hard to tell, but seems doubtful on loose plugs. Agree with the above advice.

It sounds more to me like the Midwest car rusty exhaust harmony.

 

[2001LC]

2002 LX 470 317k miles.

Looking for help identifying engine noise, I believe it might be loose spark plugs but I can't tell for sure and would like some input before proceeding. Recently purchased this, has a pretty solid maintenance record up until 250k miles or so. Engine ticks on cold start and when it's hot, ticking gets louder when engine is warmed up, and seems to tick faster with revs, however it seems like the ticking gets droned out by engine noise after 1500rpm or so. Ticking sounds like metal on metal, and I do not belive its from an exhaust manifold leak.

Carfax does not have any record of spark plugs being replaced. Today I checked 6/8 spark plugs (the 2 on the drivers side did not get checked), and all seemed tight, possibly too tight as I tried loosing and they didn't budge as easy as spark plugs have in the past for me (possibly seized?). I have a link below to 2 videos, videos were taken after driving the car on the highway for 3 1/2 hours. My next step was going to be removing spark plugs and inspecting threads but wanted to check here in case someone thinks I might have seized plugs and need to tread carefully. Any input/advice would be awesome.

Tick tick tick/ pop pop pop, is best heard from wheel well. I'm not hearing the spark plugs, tick tick tick/ pop pop pop! But just may be because, to many sound.

I'd bet you've more than one bad pulley bearing. Very likely a fan bracket failing. Many even need a fan clutch.

Fan bracket bearing has failed. Watch how the pulley back of fan, jumps.


Check your fan belt and its idler and tensioner pulleys also.

Tensioner & Idler pulleys going bad Toyota 07 100 series

Removing drive belt makes final inspection of pulley bearings easy. Just put a breaker bar with a 14mm socket on tensioner pulley nut, and turn counter clock...

www.youtube.com

 

[Bex]

Just purchased my 2007 LX and had the tick tick tick at idle. Got curious after reading FAQ and sure enough, 1 plug driver side was able to be removed by hand, 2 others were barely snug at all. Tick has stopped since then. Glad to had read that before something serious arose.

 

[Jack90210]

As a data point, I just replaced my spark plugs. The previous set had been installed by a Lexus dealer around 60K miles ago. They were all appropriately snug, and one coil had some darkening around the boot but it seems that this was from a prior loose plug. New plugs were torqued to 18 ft/lb as suggested with no problems. Afterwards there was no change in sound or operation, FWIW. I put a faint wipe of silicone grease on the outer plastic edge of the female coil connector to make it easier for the next person (me, hopefully) to remove the connectors.

 

[WanderingWarrior]

Over ten years as a dealer tech this is not a new thing, happens on other makes and models. Spark plugs are one of those items that should be tightened by feel (kinda like feeler gauges). You can tell when the threads bottom out and the crush washer collapses, then go a smidge more. After doing that try torqueing one to spec and you can easily see why they loosen over time if people use the torque spec. I'd say I've replaced thousands and have never had one come back loose.

For you and for @2001LC Hi! Could you tell me a good brand/ exact model/ link for 5/8 inch or 16 mm spark plug socket you use for 100 series / 1999 LX470 that hasn’t let you down with magnet or the rubber insert falling into ur tube?? I ask because I want to check and tighten my spark plugs, fortunately I have no tick, but every option I see under $50 has also bad reviews of rubber insert falling out or magnets falling out from socket into tube when tightening or loosening. The job is easy and I can tighten properly but what is everyone using that we know won’t fall into the tube from the socket? Whether it be rubber insert of socket or the magnet? Is snap on socket the only option? what do u suggest?

Or I’ll borrow snap on from my mobile mechanic but I see in pics some of you didn’t use snap on. I really don’t want this job to become a different job trying to retrieve crap out that fell from socket. And previous owner 4 years ago put in platinum denso instead or iridium and now they have 20k miles on them and I want to put in proper iridium factory recommended models in there along with brand new denso proper coils so I may be doing that job soon along with tightening current ones. I was ready with my husky / master craft (Canada) sockets and all tools as listed in first posts by 2001LC but am not going further reading horror stories of inserts and magnets falling into tubes. One of them I put my pinky into and turned and rubber inserts came out. I can epoxy them in there but are there any model you can recommend that hasn’t let you down?? Thanks!

 

[delz05]

This is what I have been using for yeras... never an issue...

GEARWRENCH 3 Pc. 3/8" Drive 6 Pt. Magnetic Swivel Spark Plug Set - 41740D​

 

[WanderingWarrior]

This is what I have been using for yeras... never an issue...

GEARWRENCH 3 Pc. 3/8" Drive 6 Pt. Magnetic Swivel Spark Plug Set - 41740D​

Thx I bought it.

 

[WanderingWarrior]

Tick tick tick/ pop pop pop, is best heard from wheel well. I'm not hearing the spark plugs, tick tick tick/ pop pop pop! But just may be because, to many sound.

I'd bet you've more than one bad pulley bearing. Very likely a fan bracket failing. Many even need a fan clutch.

Fan bracket bearing has failed. Watch how the pulley back of fan, jumps.


Check your fan belt and its idler and tensioner pulleys also.

Tensioner & Idler pulleys going bad Toyota 07 100 series

Removing drive belt makes final inspection of pulley bearings easy. Just put a breaker bar with a 14mm socket on tensioner pulley nut, and turn counter clock...

www.youtube.com

Okay so i have another question. In none of the 25 pages of this thread did i read about this. What denso/ lexus coil do i order when there is this second Lexus denso one also… and i'll explain why i am asking. I have service manuals and know what they say, and know what partsouq says and what rock auto has on their site for $50ish and what I was about to order…

TWO DIFFERENT DENSO COILS on my 1999 LX470 ( Lexus Denso and Denso) - Which one to order for new 8 set?
I didn't think I’d find 25 year old LEXUS DENSO coils Lexus 90919-0225927 on it which then was superceded by Lexus 90919-02259. I have 2 of these on passenger side in #2 spot and #6 spots and in great physical shape still and then one of the denso #6731303 or toyota part# 9019-02230 in ignition tube #6 which was changed 5 years and 30k miles ago by previous owner and this one is the one with brown tip and looks worn.
Odd that it's not the oldest lexus ones that are in bad shape. And then have crappy aftermarket one in #8 that was so hard to take out, the coil, as if it was sucking back in from some vaccum. Of course 2 lexus ones on passenger side were obviously replaced at some point, i believe 5 years ago per records, one with the denso 673-1303 toyota 9019-02230 and one some no name aftermarket brand which I will replace soon once I know which denso set to order out of my two choices.

WHICH LEXUS/ DENSO COIL TO BUY?
Now everyone i know and my factory service manuals and partsouq states to get 90919-02230 which are on for like $50usd at rock auto. Do i go for that or do i go for the lexus deno ones, which are about $90 usd or more and have to get from lexus/ toyota parts sites or dealers. Partsouq does not have.
Just saw Impex Japan does have Lexus denso Lexus 90919-0225927/ 90919-02259 for $60.82 and i was already thinking about getting japanese made coils and spending a bit more on the 90919-02230 FSM recommmended compared to getting from rock auto as i believe rock auto densos are made in USA?

When you google it and check it's fitment (for LEXUS DENSO 90080-19027/ superceded by 90919-02259) you do see it says 1999 LX470 and Toyota LC etc. So clearly it works for my car. I first was so worried because i thought there was only one DENSO model for our car per all my previous research.

If you anyone nows of the quality of the lexus/ denso one, especially it being made in japan still, do you think I should just go for that? Or stick to what basically everyone is doing and get from rock auto the 90919-02230 denso? But not sure about how long these will last being built in USA. No offense regarding that but the japanese parts are usually longer lasting. And for $10 more if lexus denso one you think is worth it again and in your experience still good for this car, i'll just get with my next large order for my Lexus vehicles from Impex Japan.

I wish I had pictures but my stupid phone died at midnight when I was working last night.

I didn't make it to driver side because lost my 10 mm socket tightening up the last coil on passenger side. 3rd time in the past year! haha
I also lost the 5/8/ 16mm socket 3-4 times because i don't have one long piece. Had to carefully retrive few times out of tubes. Fortunately the rubber insert didn't come out while tightening. I did order the gearwrench kit.

SPARK PLUGS
Also, my spark plugs were still snug except front #2 which definitely was loose and I tightned it more. I have had no tick but been paranoid after seeing this thread for last year pop up over and over.
Plugs last done 5 years ago with denso platinum (last owner cheaped out and didn't get iridium which i am going to get once decide on which coils).

Oh and I did clean off entire area and use compressed air around and then prior to going for spark plug. Thanks for all those tips.

Will inspect driver side coils and plugs/ tighten when i get 10mm sockets in mail today. I see one coil has a big D image on it and i believe it is something else aside from Denso.

Thanks 2001LC and everyone! Again, i didn't find anything regarding this in this great thread. Rock auto site states the just regular denos supercedes the lexus Denso but that is not what other sites state. It shows both are different and with different supercedes numbers. If you did post info about this before somewhereelse please let me know. Thanks!

 

[Octous]

Thanks to Mud, I checked my spark plugs while I was working on my alternator.

I found 4 that were ~ 6 Nm rather than the 17.5 Nm indicated. The others were fine.

Worth the check!

 

[Vision19]

Another data point for this thread. I went in a replaced my plugs (original I believe at 135k) and I had 3 plugs that were loose. One had backed out and seized, leading to the coil plug being very brown and cracked. It had not failed yet but certainly was close. I had no sounds or symptoms.

 

[2001LC]

Another data point for this thread. I went in a replaced my plugs (original I believe at 135k) and I had 3 plugs that were loose. One had backed out and seized, leading to the coil plug being very brown and cracked. It had not failed yet but certainly was close. I had no sounds or symptoms.

Loose spark plugs, do result in sound as a sign/symptom. But thread can become clogged, sealing back up.

Loose spark, lose compressed gases from combustion chamber. That is the tick we hear. But "sometimes" these gases seize (gunk up threads) spark plug in head, which may stop lose of compressed gases. So plugs is no longer loose, but not seated properly (they'll tighten). It's unspent fuel cooking in threads. This is mostly seen, in the 4.7L, that is used for frequent short low speed drives and or idle excessively and or poorly tuned engine. Add a fuel system cleaner like 44k, and it loosens the cook gunk (carbon) from threads. Then we hear tick tick tick again.

We also see spark plugs seize, if anti-seize used. As they loosen (walk out) and hot gases escape, cooking the anti-seize in the threads.

 

[awesomeissquid]

Adding a data point. Originally installed a new set of spark plugs ~2 years and ~15k miles ago. At install they were torqued to 16ft-lbs. Checked them this weekend and all were still tight. Went ahead and retorqued everything to 18ft-lbs.

 

[2001LC]

Keep in mind. It's number of heating and cooling cycles, not miles.

 

[Dockofthebay]

I got the tick of death. Went to a trusted muffler shop "No Muff to Tuff" and they told me it didn't sound manifold related. I stopped driving it and ordered a new set of denso coils and plugs. #6 was the culprit. No more ticking, runs healthier. thank god it was caught in time. Thanks for the heads up!!! Btw, i prefer RedLine fuel injector cleaner.

About 75,000 in-between plug changes.

 

[Mike NXP]

I got the tick of death. Went to a trusted muffler shop "No Muff to Tuff" and they told me it didn't sound manifold related. I stopped driving it and ordered a new set of denso coils and plugs. #6 was the culprit. No more ticking, runs healthier. thank god it was caught in time. Thanks for the heads up!!! Btw, i prefer RedLine fuel injector cleaner.

About 75,000 in-between plug changes.

View attachment 3761034

Would you say the ticking was pretty noticeable or did you have to get your head under the hood and poke around to hear it?

 

[Dockofthebay]

Would you say the ticking was pretty noticeable or did you have to get your head under the hood and poke around to hear it?

I don't drive the truck that often. Was meeting a friend and when i pulled up next to him he mentioned the ticking. Then i put my head in the fender well and became concerned. I run Fuel injector cleaner through the engine probably too often. I believe it gets louder then gums up again and quieted down. If you look at my two top threads you can see how far out it backed out.

 

[thetoyotaman]

Started hearing a light tick and changed the coils and plugs. 3 plugs had the black goo on the threads and all coils were cracked. Noise gone now. The 2UZ feels better like it’s not fighting itself anymore.

 

[cwmoser]

This thread is making me paranoid.
I replaced Spark Plugs last weekend, used anti-seize, and torqued to 15 ft-lb.
All the old Spark Plugs did have a brown color on the threads.
72K on the old plugs.