Ticking sound from engine

Hello,

I just started getting a rhythmic ticking sound coming from my 2013 Tundra. It started up from cold start, then stopped the first time after warming up. Now, it stays on and continues with the engine reving, the more you step on the gas, the faster it goes, but keeps the same rhythm, just faster.

It sounds more like it's coming from the passenger lower side. Can't really pinpoint it.

I have about 250,000 miles and have used Mobile 1 0-20 full synthetic thought its life.

Any thoughts on what it can be?

This is a link to the sound, couldn't figure out how to upload directly.

https://youtube.com/shorts/0KHNQI65mD4?feature=share8

 

Hm that’s a weird sound. Following.

 

sounds like belt and tensioner

 

Long shot, but do you have a tear or flat spot on your serpentine belt?

 

Does it speed up with RPM? It should be easy to find with an extended stethoscope

 

I will check it out when I get home from work. Would it make the same sound consistently with a missing piece?

Is there a way to check the tensioner?

I will have to buy a stethoscope, but it does speed up with rpm. Same rhythm though, just faster.

 

https://youtu.be/U927cYhQXB4

 

A piece of tubing will work in a pinch

 

Works every time.

 

So I got underneath it to check out the belt tensioner really quick. Didn't use no sound pinpointing technique yet, but it does sound like it's coming from the tensioner and you can see it bouncing almost mimicking the click. Even on the rev up.

https://youtube.com/shorts/1SD2xoqy13U?feature=share8

 

It definitely looks like the tensioner is about to give up. I wouldn’t drive it much until you replace it. Might as well slap in a new belt as well

 

^^^

 

New tensioner on...still ticking! :-(

 

Oof have to check all pulleys, alternator, power steering everything that running with the belt…
Take the belt off and shake on every pulleys and see which on have play.

 

There was another ticking thread and it ended up being the timing chain tensioner. Try searching that and see how sound compares. I don't have good enough audio on this old tablet to tell much on sounds.

 

I tried the ol listen with a screwdriver trick. The power steering pump sounds like just something running through it. The alternator feels like the ticking is where it's coming from and the sound is pronounced there. Don't know too much on vehicles, but do alternators tick when beginning to fail? Or overworking? I thought they whined, or grinded

 

Did you run it briefly with the belt off? It would eliminate some variables.

 

I'll look it up. Saw a YouTube video on it, but the guy was just clicking it too rapidly to know if it'd be Similar.

 

I did not. So I Just run it with the belt off and do the screwdriver test?

 

run it without belt to see if it's timing chain tensioner.
it will still make ticking sound without the belt

 

It looks like the belt is "pausing" in the video. I'm betting it is not one of the accessories.. power steering, ac, alternator etc. Since the crank pulley drives the belt, I'm wondering if it not something belt driven. I hope it is something easy though.

 

should just take the belt off and wiggle every pulleys in there, and see which one have play. with that much movement on the tensioner it should be a easy diagnostic.

 

Ok. Just tried it. No ticking sound without the belt

 

That's really good news, actually. The problem IS in the accessories and not in the engine itself. Is your AC or defroster on?

 

Yes we run the AC, I thought maybe that had something to do it. But with it on or off it's the same with the ticking.

Messing with all the pulleys, the only one that has what I think is excessive play (since I don't know what it's supposed to have and comparing it to the rest) is the water pump one. (Above the tensioner?)

But the "sound" seems to be from from the alternator with the screwdriver test??

https://youtube.com/watch?v=1aZUZ-7I4wI&feature=share8

 

too much play on water pump

 

Got a mechanic stethoscope from harbor freight. Ticking is coming from the back part of the alternator. Around where the wires plug into it. Asked the guys at the advanced autoparts, they said they've never heard if a ticking alternator.

Is this a thing?

 

Never. Like you said, ive heard grinding and squealing, never knocking . But most auto stores can bench test alternators, assuming yours isn't absolutely terrible to remove.

 

There's definitely too much play with your water pump/pulley. It may not be the noise you are hearing, but I would consider changing that out before it completely fails.

 

it maybe multiple items, all going bad around the same time. water pump is bad already, after you change it, it will help with the noise, but might come back later when the alternator bearing is out.