Cranking/clicking noise on startup of my sisters 2007 toyota 4runner, 170k miles, . There is a very loud cranking sound on startup, It is not very consistent sometimes it is very loud other times it is non-existant. Is this a starter or alternator issue? The links below are of videos of the sound.
startup #1
https://youtube.com/shorts/x6m324Z4qO8
startup #2: holding the key to start longer
https://youtube.com/shorts/QzU61wxtcqc?feature=share
Well that's often the variable valve timing. You might flush the engine oil, then change the oil filter and pray that it's a sticking timing chain tensioner would sometimes it is. If not, it's internal wear and it's super expensive to fix many guys live with if it only doesn't when you first started up and quiet's up quick
