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Ticking noise - maybe a lifter?; cylinder head
Topic Started: Nov 5 2009, 01:48 PM (10,722 Views)
hombremosca
New Member
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ok, so my wife has been driving the metro for a bit, and it seems like every car she drives she runs into the ground.

at the moment, the car is ticking when you start it up, but tends to usually go away once it warms up. (however, this isn't always the case)

at first i thought it was an exhaust leak, but inspection revealed nothing at any point in the exhaust sys that indicated a leak.

i did have to replace the 02 sensor just a few tanks back.

ive used a stethescope on the head and it sounds like the noise is coming from there. any ideas? im tempted to do a pop'n'swap on the head, but i want to be a little bit more sure of this. any help or ideas are appreciated
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

Sometimes the lifters get gummed up and start to stick. That is why I use Seafoam..........
http://geometroforum.com/topic/681815/

Mine used to make noise all the time, but got quieter after it warmed. After using the Seafoam through 3-4 oil changes, it finally went away.
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hombremosca
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well, im just wondering since after speaking to my wife and getting a full confession, that this has been going on for 5 months.

I dont mind going the seafoam route, but i would like to make sure there is no real damage. the noise is definitely getting louder. any other ideas?
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Woodie
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That engine is famous for sticky lifters and another, more serious rocker arm problem. The fact that it goes away when warm makes me suspect a lifter, Seafoam it and put in some thin synthetic, there's a chance you can clean it up, I'd go with 0W-30 Mobile One myself, but we all have our preferences.

A bit early to call in the grand jury to indict your wife, sometimes things just break.

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hombremosca
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i know, but knowing her........

ill give that seafoam a shot. thanks guys!
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Murf 59
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Woodie is right.
One thing, try using a long handled screwdriver as a listening device. Carefully put the pointy end where you think the noise is, and the handle against your ear. It will act like a stethiscope. No BS. I am not trying to get you to do something silly. This really works. And you can chase noise's really well this way. You can listen to your valves and any bearings this way. The noise in the handle will sound just like what your hearing with your ears. If it does not then keep looking, till it makes the right noise.
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BillP
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I believe all the 4 bangers have mechanical lifter adjustments...my 98 does. Ticking lifters could be as simple as just needing adjustment. When is the last time clearance was checked? :drivin
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Woodie
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95 - 97 four cylinders have the worlds smallest hydraulic adjusters, and they're trouble prone.

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BillP
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Thats good to know. Maybe its time for new lifters. It was the fix on my 1.OL. Cleaning the old ones helped a lot but new ones took ALL the noise away. Did the 95-97s have a tech bulletin to upgrade lifters like the 1.0L did? The new lifters I bought had the mod...which visibily was a larger bleed oil hole and much larger groove. :news
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hombremosca
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ok, sorry its taken me so long to update, but i did run the seafoam through the intake.

used a 1/4 inch vacuum line and i gravity fed it into the intake. smoked, and sputtered. threw a check engine/code, but started to run more smoothly. at the moment looks like it did fix the problem, but im still hearing a bit of noise.


anyone have a tutorial on valve adjustment?
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mwebb
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FOG

using an engine / intake cleaning solvent
sucked into the intake

should have zero affect on "lifter noise "....

so
i suggest , you connect a vacuum gauge "Teed" into the vacuum line to the MAP sensor
value at hot idle should be around 20" at sea level , a bit less at 4000 feet in salt lake .

but more important ;
the needle must be smooth with no flutter at all

if you have flutter , you have a valve train problem , sticking or burnt valve
if it is a binding valve guide , seafoam may help
if it is a burned valve , seafoam will not help .

since you say seafoam ingested into the intake did help ....
you may have a sticking or binding valve guide , and the seafoam removed a bit of the carbon on the valve stem that is binding in the valve guide ...

i suspect you will see
intermittent and not consistent dip or flutter on the vacuum gauge
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Manny
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Yes! a Costa Rican member

My 97 did the same sound and it was the exhaust gasket, on the right hand side... -the gasket surrounding the EGR tube- went damaged and what I've heard was the leaking exhaust instead the lifters,

Lifters does not use to give such problems unless the car has some maintenance or lubricating problems, -my thoughts-

Do not dispose your lifters, you can use a needle and refill them with oil and test them out for leaks, if everything normal you can refill and try to use them again, if same problem happens then buy new ones,

This could be just maintenance since even when you change your engine oil, lifters are not being drained, so those small pieces use to conserve oil from many many miles ago and get some dirt inside

Let us know
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Manny
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Yes! a Costa Rican member

Accelerate the engine and put your ear close the exhaust manifold... and accelerate by pulling the throttle cable underneath the air filter (right hand) for 2 seconds, when left the accelerator you may hear that leak until engine returns to idle
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Bad Bent
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Facetious Educated Donkey

Have you attempted to find the tick using Mr. Murf's suggestion in post # 6?
It works. ^o)

IMHO, it's always good to have a clean engine which is why I Seafoam the Throttle Body regularly.

My in-laws' Hyundai Accent had lifter noise. I added Seafoam to the oil, maybe 6-7 ounces. Ran it 500 miles or so and used regular 10W30 oil and their ticking noise went away. :dunno
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Woodie
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hombremosca
Nov 19 2009, 12:33 PM
ok, sorry its taken me so long to update, but i did run the seafoam through the intake.

used a 1/4 inch vacuum line and i gravity fed it into the intake. smoked, and sputtered. threw a check engine/code, but started to run more smoothly. at the moment looks like it did fix the problem, but im still hearing a bit of noise.


anyone have a tutorial on valve adjustment?
There is no adjustment, the hydraulic lifters do that for you (until they don't anymore, that's what the ticking is)

mwebb brings up a good point, SeaFoam in the intake shouldn't effect lifter noise. I meant do the full SeaFoam treatment, one third in the gas tank, one third in the oil, one third down the intake throat. Drive it easy for a couple hundred miles then change the oil to something good quality and thin.
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