Harleyww

Have a 1999 Lexus vvti and the sound it makes is like a cam hitting the lifter bucket, but when I check the clearance it is absolutely perfect . I took a screwdriver and placed it on the valve cover and it's definitely coming from the valve cover area on the front Bank next to the vvti gear . I replace the vvti gear cam assembly with another one . car runs great the torque is incredible and it will absolutely fly but ticking noise is very loud. I've seen dozens of complaints on YouTube about the same exact problem. Someone here has got to have seen this and fixed it

Harleyww

I've done some research and I think that the vvti actuator locking pin may be loose. I want to take it apart to see what can be done or what causes the PIN to fail or get loose. This is just a theory but when I come home tonight I'm going to take one apart that is an extra because both of them are making the same noise. By the way thanks everyone for your input ..NOT

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

My 2001 ES300 years ago had the same noise, and while I had every intention of getting it looked at, I drove it for 100k miles with no problems and the car drove perfectly fine when I sold it at 240k miles. That being said, there was a youtube video where the original poster said in a comment it was a fuel injector on his 1999, but no way to confirm.

Harleyww

Thanks for the reply, but it looks like when I take my screwdriver I can put it right on the base of the valve cover and I can physically here something on the valve cover. I am plugged the fuel injector and still the same problem.

Ace20Six

According to the forum you posted this thread at 5:10am today

Not even 2 hours later at 6:35am today you post this ^^^^

And you were expecting what? 20+ different replies of any ones guess as to what the issue is or where the noise is coming from?

This forum is not exactly THAT busy, not in this section of the forum anyways for these specific models in comparison to other car forums. Have to be a little more patient around here.

Harleyww

After adding motor honey ( Lucas oil treatment ) and had no success..still same noise, I thought about the VVTI gear. I started thearly engine ,let it warm up, then I applied 12V to the VVTI oil solenoid, of course the engine stumbled, I then revved it up to about 2000 rpm, still same sound. I then applied 12 volts to the oil solenoid and the sound with away, unplugged the 12V and the sound reappeared..its obvious the VVTI gear actuated fills with fluid and is pressurized, whatever is inside expands and moves the actuator to take up the slack. When unplugged ,it gets loose and chatters

Harleyww

Does anyone know how to take the VVTI gear apart. Looks like a large bolt on the gear. Does it go counter clockwise or clockwise. How do you hold it in place