I have a ’92 400e with about 130K miles on the odo. After a recent 200 mile drive and an overnight rest, it started making a very bad sound from the engine along the midline. The noise started right at startup.

I tried to post an audio of the noise but the forum regulations don’t permit the iPhone audio file type.

The top guesses are that the noise may be due to a failing wrist pin or rod bearing.

Other than this issue, the engine was in great shape, used 0 measurable oil between 5,000 mile oil/filter changes with Mobile 1 synth. Has had this oil type and change and frequency since new.

Some I’ve spoken with suggest replacing the engine. After doing some shopping I found a rebuilt long block for about $2K and a local indy said he’d do the swap/build for $2.5K + parts.

I like the car and couldn’t replace it for the cost of the suggested replacement. Don’t know if I should have someone troubleshoot to find the source and then fix it, or rebuild or replace.

Comments?

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Toyota is a leader only because their drivers block everyone behind them. Oh what a feeling.

The 119 is an exceptionally well engineered engine. I'd be very suspect of a lower end problem short of running out of oil or ingestion of a foreign object. A failed lifter can make a heck of a racket and is a lot more plausible than a wrist pin or bearing. Later 119 engines have plastic oiler tubes that feed the lifters but your early engine should have aluminum tubes that don't fail, leaving only the lifters. Get a solid diagnose and fix it.

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90 300TE 4-M
Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim
T04B cover .60 AR
Stage 3 turbine .63 AR
A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR
MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control
3" Exh, AEM W/B O2
Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys,
Vented Rear Discs, .034 Booster.
3.07 diffs 1st Gear Start

90 300CE 104.980
Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression
197° intake cam w/20° advancer
Tuned CIS ECU
4° ignition advance
PCS TCM2000, built 722.6
600W networked suction fan
Sportline sway bars
V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff

Don't continue to run the engine, it might be repairable.

Next have a look at car-part.com This is a nation wide search of participating salvage yard inventories. In some markets engines are low $ so it's worth a shot. I've found that half of business ( no matter what business ) don't respond to e mail so calling the salvage yard for info is better.

Thanks for the comments.

Its never run low on oil or eaten anything that I know of. The air filter is in place and relatively new.

I have only started the engine briefly since the problem onset to record the noise. At idle of about 600 rpm the noise is a single knock that repeats roughly 6 x per second or roughly 360 beats per minute.

Thanks for the tip about car-part.com. I found a complete used engine locally but if i replace i'm thinking of a crate long block.

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Toyota is a leader only because their drivers block everyone behind them. Oh what a feeling.

A lifter noise is more of a sharp click. Ever hear a car with solid lifters? ( Like an old Chrysler Slant 6 , Ford Mustang / Ranger with 2.6 / 2.8 German V6. )

A worn out connecting rod bearing / crank shaft journal generally makes a knock at first start up then gets quiet once oil pressure builds up. As the oil warms up / thins out / pressure drops off a quick idle to 2000 - 2500 RPM to idle throttle snap ( in park / neutral ) will bring the noise back. There is no need to rev the engine to red line or for any length of time, what you are looking to do is a quick "get the engine to work under the load of acceleration".

You need a shop that builds engines to listen to this.

Don't replace the engine before you have diagnosed the source of the noise. Can you upload the vidoe to another site and post a link, like this one: https://youtu.be/4EPR_Fo9wDw ?

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Prost!

First thing I do when there's a strange noise is remove the fan belt and then run the engine for a half a minute or so. You'd be surprised at how many problems originate from the belt system/ancillaries. Doesn't cost anything to check.

Many thanks for the added comments.

Had an indy mb mechanic come out last evening to listen and he said he thinks it is an upper end issue. I’m having it towed to his shop next week.

Stay tuned...

__________________
Toyota is a leader only because their drivers block everyone behind them. Oh what a feeling.