Tundra pinging

[E.Amado]

Yesterday I was in a 1.5 hr traffic jam trying to get back into the USA from Rocky Point, Mexico. I was basically at about 1500 RPMs inching my way to Intl. Border for 1.5 hours. After I cleared the US point of entry and started driving on my way, my truck stared to "ping" loud (screaming banshee loud). My truck also seems to ping lightly when I accelerate from 30mph at about 2200rpm. Anybody experiencing the same, or have an idea about whats going on?

thanks,
Eric Amado

[Brian M]

Did you refuel down there? Bet there is an octane issue.

eric, it my be an idler pulley that may be giving you that symptoms of pinging.my dealer here in conn called a tech out in california and his responce was that there are a few tundra's with bad idler pulleys and should have them changed.i have the same problem with my 2000 limited v8. i'm convinced it's the pulley because i've used the highest octane available and it still pings lightly in 1st gear around 2200-2500 rpms shifts to 2nd pings a little then go's away.it happens all the time.when i try to power brake it to simulate a load condition it doesn't ping at all....it's the rpm of the pulley resonating from what the dealer say's..............good luck

[E.Amado]

Brian,

I did not refuel in mexico. That PEXMEX gas is of a low quality. I only needed one tank for the trip.

Mark,

The idler pully sounds like a possible problem. I am taking the truck to the dealer today.

thanks,
Eric

[Mark440]

Mark....

good god its the pulley?????

I've had the pinging sound since the truck was new. At almost 90k...I still have the ping.

Took it in several times and all the computer codes checked good. The computer also stores a history if there has been any mis-firing. None reported.

So how does a pulley sound like engine ping??

This is what the dealer here in conn said it was.He called some expert tech in california and he told my tech that it's a problem in some tundra's.I know it sounds screwy, but i'm going to make an appointment to have it changed.Both tech's insist this is what it is.

[Mark440]

The good news is that I don't feel like an idiot with this ping issue. Dealerships thought I was just whining, and I was concerned that the pinging would eventually cause damage to the engine.

The bad news is I have to go find a pulley that doesn't ping. Do you suppose this will be noted on the outside of the box?? "Non-pinging unit!" "Guaranteed not to ping for the life of your truck!"

With my luck I'll find one that is a closet pinger.

[dutchone]

I have only had my Tundra for about two months. I have noticed quite a few times that getting onto the highway, RMP's between 2-2.5K, that I hear a pinging sound. I thought it was the 87 octane gas myself. I tried the other grades, and agree it must be that idler pulley. I am going to call the dealer and see if I can get it changed.

[teebonetuna]

My 2001 has a pinging noise between 2 and 3000 rpm but only if I get on the gas hard pulling a grade seems to happen from 2nd to drive and if I ease into the gas and slowly floor it,it doesn't seem to ping i've also changed fuel brands,used 67,89,92 octane with pensoil outlaw and snap octane boost seemed to work for a while but now nothing seems to help. even changed plugs to ngk platinum same heat range and change aircleaner to k/n drop in. Next I'm going to chnge thermostat to see, if cooling helps if this does'nt help,I will try changing The plugs to nipendenso platinums from the dealer for the 4.7. These plugs are 1 heat range cooler than stock plugs, $ 9.64 a piece plug # is
ndpk16tr11.
installed ngk bkr6egp 7092 noticed off idle power increase
k/n drop in helps power too
I just have a hard time believing the idler pully can make such a noise.

[sequoiasoon]

My old SUV used to ping at any acceleration even with 93 octane in it. Took it to an mechanic instructor (friend of dad's that actually helped create the ASE certification tests) trains mechanics on all the "latest stuff" Purely computer OBD2, Fuel injection, etc. He cleaned the entire fuel system with BG products cleaners, tossed in a can of BG 44K, and then gave me back my K&N drop in airfilter after putting factory back in. Told me that the K&N does an excellent job of filtering but the factory Mass Air Flow sensor can not react quick enough to how much air it actually lets flow. Ping was caused by extremely LEAN mixture and carbon build up inside the combustion chamber. Factory filter with everything clean NO PING. I put the K&N back in 2 weeks later just to try and sure enough, ping but only very lightly since all was clean. All it takes is very small amount of carbon deposit being hot (read under load definitely) to ignite the very lean mixture inside the engine. Try putting the factory air filter back on and see what happens. My K&N also put a small amount of oil residue on the MAF sensor making react slower making the problem worse.

[TEXASTECHTUNDRA]

You all have no idea how valuable this message board is. I have a 2000 Limited V* that has been pinging for almost 6 months now. I have almost 38K and every time I goto th dealer I know they think I'm being way too picky. I figure since it's the first new car I ever bought I have a right to be picky. I've done the same brake test to simulate loads and hear no ping. I do hear the ping betweeen 2200-2600 RPM when I try to accelerate. I replaced the spark plugs at 35K(even though I replaced them at 30K also) and that didn't seem to help. Although I'm not sure how a pulley can simulate an engine ping on the left bank, it's worth a shot.

Hey texas tech, How do u know the noise is coming from the left bank of the engine compartment.........just curious?? As for the ping under a load, i my self have even tried to simulate a load on the engine by gently power braking it to bring up the rpms to around 2500 rpm...no ping at all just! It only happens when excelerating from 1st to 2nd. I still haven't had my pulley replaced like the dealer wanted to do....my mechanic at toyota went on his honeymoon.....(another one bites the dust) ha ha.
Maybe i should try the b&g fuel system cleaner.....but wouldn't the dealer have tried that already since it seems like a quik and easy remedy???I myself have put a container of techron in my truck the last 4 fillups and still have the ping......go figure!!

[blderman]

Just a thought here. Everyone in here seems to have the pinging problem at 2-3,000 rpms. Aprox. 2,300 rpms is when the ETC lets the butterfly valve in the throttle body open up all the way. It seems to me that the pinging would be caused by the sudden rush of extra air....and thus the boost of power too. The air flow sensor probably takes a few seconds to catch up. You would think the computer would be programmed to compensate for this but nothing would suprise me. My truck does the exact same thing under load from 2,300-3,000.... I would think of it more as a knock than ping but everyone hears it different. At any rate next time it starts to ping loudly under moderate accel. try letting off the throttle just a little, still accel, but just enough so that BF valve closes up just a little. I can make the noise come and go as I want in the rpm range.....

Jason

[SMUAlien]

I too have experienced this as E. Amado will attest, he pointed it out to me. Is this pinging something to be worried about that could cause damage to my engine. This just started recently and I have only about 15K miles on the truck. I also have a K&N drop in filter. I am thinkign of going back to paper. Anyone think this is a good idea?

[jdoherty]

I've read the posts and I've talked to peole and I think my engine noise is pinging. When I accelerate hard about 2500-4500rpm I get a noise from the engine that sounds like a combination of a diesel engine, kind of a gurgling sound and a catalytic converter heat shield rattling. Is this the same pinging you are all talking about? I have an '03 4X4 Access cab with only 13,000 miles on it. I do half of it highway probably so I didn't thik it was buidup. I will try a higher octane but I don't want to make it a habbit. I read about the pulley....what pullyey are you referring to? is it an outboar pulley or something internal? The lower right pulley (I think that's the one) has been making a squeaking/hissing noise as I drive. I thought I had a vaccume leak or something, but I read a post that said the belt may be bad, (judging by their description of the noise) is this true?
Pretty dissapointed about the combination of little annoyances. I hope someone has some input for one or both of these problems. Thanks, Jack