Timing Chain, IAF, MAF sensor, or Throttle body? Answer EGR valve

Asking the question while combing the pages for answers. 2.7l, 4x4, 2002.

Recently had a solid refurbished cyl head, new timing chain kit, and clutch installed on my truck. OEM grade from Yota1, quality stuff. The installer, a friend of a friend with a shop, sucked. Truck came back with Alot of missing bolts, exhaust gasket not replaced with new gasket from kit, battery tied down with bailing wire, missing intake support, and more. Enough to question if anything was torque to specs, and if any detail was taken in the work.

After 2000 miles the truck started to make a noise of a tight chain, like a chainsaw chain to tight. Last night while rolling into dinner in Newport Beach, it stop running at idle with heavy knocking. I have to pump the gas to keep its running. At highway speeds it runs smooth, or accelerating is smooth, but at idle it is extremely rough and shuts off.

Just now, while rolling up to a stop sign, it suddenly ran correct. But then immediately reverted back to unable to handle an idle, and knocking.

I think if I can hear the timing chain, that obviously is the answer. But am hearing timing chain? Can I tighten the chain tensioner?

I do not see any vacuum hoses loose. The only code I am getting is system to lean bank #1 (P0171).

Where do I start?

Thank you

 

Cleaned MAF, not that. Still only one code, P0171.

 

Take it to a different guy. They probably left somthing disconnected. Or try it yourself. Have your wife or friend sit in the truck while its idling and play with the vacuum lines/.wires. You might just find it.

 

On the very back of the 2.7 head their is a wire that goes to a sensor/engine temp. You have to feel for it because you cant see it. Its under the hot cold adjuster on the firewall. That will cause a 171 code and make it idle bad.... The guy probably missed it. Tell us what it was

 

Unplugged the vapor sensor, I believe that is what you are referring to, and plugged it back it several times. Not that.

I was able to hear rolling tight noise from the timing chain area. And still after I get up to speed on the interstate sometimes it will balance out and idle when I come to a stop. Feels like the timing is moving somehow, or knock sensor?

 

That stinks...I find these engines very hard to diagnose..

 

Could it be the timing chain tensioner having issues?

 

The egr valve was not bolted to the intake. The friend, of a friend, jacked me with his incompetent, lack of detail, shop hand of a mechanic.
I was thinking the chain tensioner was the issue too. The sound was an open vacuum sound, which i thought sounded like a rolling chain from inside the cab. Once I pulled a vacuum test it was obvious. The vacuum was erratically bouncing low (3-10psi). I was checking vacuum tubes when “wtf, are you kidding me” I found it.
I stole a nut from the exhaust shield as a temp fix to go find more nuts for the egr valve

 

Damn thats wild! Glad you found it.

 

You got to be kidding me. UGH
Glad u found issue

 

Replace that exhaust manifold gasket, too.

 

Thats good dude. Could have been much worse with clowns like that

 

And this is exactly why I hate anyone else working on my Tacoma. It's just hard to find a decent mechanic that won't do "Shitty" work or just plain attempt to rip you off. This Shoddy work would have evolved into a major ass beating 10 years ago. Glad you found the problem, and I would at least tell this "Mechanic" that you won't be using his services ever again. There really is no excuse for this kind of work.

 

^^^and the labor rates go upwards

ugh.