Hi everyone just bought a 92 LS400 that needs some work. So far the only thing that has been stopping me from continuing to fix the car is this noise. It is coming underneath the engine.

 

I hear either a valve lifter clicking or else a small exhaust leak (possibly in manifold area)

those two sounds can be almost indistinguishable!

underneath would make the exhaust leak more likely

as long as the noise I am hearing is the one you are referring to!

the LS400 has a very common problem of the lower EGR tube cracking, although I am not certain that would be the same exhaust leak as we may be hearing here, but I would definitely inspect that area - it cracks in the crinkled part of the tube (in the curve)

 

EGR pipe leak maybe?

 

Thank You guys for you're responses. I will check this out tomorrow and reply back i have a lot of work ahead of me. Got it for 1,300 and only has done 128k miles but hasn't been dealer serviced since 30k miles. I have a spare 1uz and transmission laying around that i parted out from a crashed ls400.

 

unless your transmission has been abused (using fluid not specified by Toyota, or shifting from Reverse to Drive or vice-versa without bringing the car to a complete stop), then you will probably never need the spare transmission - they are bulletproof and easily last 250K (longer than most any transmission)

here are the items you may well need to replace or deal with though:

● strut bar bushings
● lower EGR tube cracking
● transmission mount
● failing ECU capacitors
● upper control arms
● climate or radio display LCD out
● severed wire in curved portion of driver's side trunk hinge causing electrical issues
● Idle Air Control valve bearings


that is not a very long list for a 22 year old car!

 

Well I checked and its really loud at the drivers side and I believe it is coming from the exhaust manifold used a socket extensions to hear the noise and its similar and loud clicking. Checked the EGR side and could definitely tell that it was coming from the drivers side. But now I'm stuck i gotta find a way to remove it.

 

one way to eliminate a lot of possibilities is to remove the main drive (serpentine) belt

then, if the noise is now magically gone, you have just narrowed it down to one of the following:

● drive belt tensioner pulley
● idler pulley
● A/C compressor clutch pulley
● alternator
● power steering pump
● fan pulley
● the belt itself

 

If u think u may have a belt squeaking then spray the ribbed side with water...if the noise gets louder then its a tensioner problem

 

Unfortunately it is still ticking but good thing is I now know for sure I need a new power steering pump and alternator and I have two good used ones well alternator is a year old and ps pump is rebuilt.