How do I know for sure my noise is VTC's and not lifters or timing chain or something else that might be really bad? It kind of comes and goes and doesn't always act exactly the same but I don't like it.

 

My vtc's are grounded but every once in a while i will hear them clack at cold startup for 15-30 seconds...and they will chime in here and there around town for a few seconds....

 

I put my hand on my VTCs when they do tick and I can feel the vibration on the VTCs so I know its them.

what does grounding your VTCs do for them? is it safe to ground them?

 

Oh crap.... Lets not get on that subject again...J/K


Grounding them will quiet the ticking noise down....But it takes some top end power away....

 

Mine are about the same as this on my JDM engine

On my first engine, they were awful, clacking virtually all the time.

When I grounded the first one, the clacking went away, but my idle was a mess. Sometimes, when I pushed in the clutch (like at a light or stop sign) the car would just die.

Just keep changing the oil, using the Toyota filter and try to prolong the life of them as much as possible.

 

LOL didnt mean to open up a can of worms.

 

It's weird how grounding them has different effects on various engines,i have had mine grounded for about 100,000 miles and my car has never died on me...It has aways had a funky idle though,even before i grounded them..

 

I had several VE idles go crazy after grounding.
I have stabilized each one almost to normal (700-800RPM) by a squeaky clean egr, throttle body, IACV and a homemade grounding kit. It will blip and surge but stay between 500-800 rpm even the most extreme case

 

Have you ever cleaned out your IACV? On my JDM engine, the idle would surge some and was usually high. I got a used IACV, cleaned it out and replaced the gaskets for that and the TB and now it purrs like a kitten.

 

I got a feeling thats where the problem is with my idle...I am going to pull the one off my other engine and give it a good cleaning,then put it on....Maybe that will solve the funky idle thing...

 

Grounding the solenoid, cuts the solenoid out: VTC oil channel valve will not open. Different effects do come from different source: Grounding VTC affetcs idle as much as flat tire...

bhunter : "How do I know for sure my noise..."
Noise can be differentiated by listening. Indians were adept in this... Open the stable door, stick a screwdriver on u 'horseback, spine, belly...', ear on the other end (handle -end prefferrably on u ear). Works as a st et hos cope, listen.

 

Chris I mean Cliff bah......

I was due for an oil change right before the "incident" . I was using the Toy Japan made filter. VTCs were clacking worse. I just did the oil change with the Napa Gold. Seems to have quieted down the tick. I'll see how long it lasts. I think the ADB valve must wear out over time. A new filter always seems to help at least for a short time. It's only been a few days so far. I might even switch to synthetic and maybe change the filters more often.

 

I have changed the oil twice since I got it from you, both times with Mobil 1 and Toyota Filter (once when I got it home and again in June). I can't remember how many miles were on the car when you installed it, but it's not even to 154k. I think there was 152k and change when you did the swap. I guess it's been about 1k miles since the last change. I will try the Napa Gold this time. That's the one designed for our car or for the Toyota?

 

Geez, thanks for all your great answers!!?? Wiking sort of gave an answer by saying to listen to it. Is there any particular noise from the lifters or timing chain that is significantly different from the VTCs? What exactly to listen for?

 

Clicety clack?

When smbdy has played with them in a certain vehicle, they surely know. For us wannabes, its the soundsource location. The FSM has pics detailing all mech devices... Timing chain & its noise is only in the engine front end. (Cant hlp as havent heard bad VTC, and the Nissans (having also VTC) I've worked on, all were noiseless)

When any vehicle has some frightening noise, getting it to a specialist for evaluation (just listen) who has known to been working particularly that type, pays. Even stealership... But typically theres is only [if any] one person who is such specialist.