My car started making a noise that sounds like clack----clack----------------clack----clack------------------clack--------clack--------------clack
It's coming from the back of the valve cover on the passenge side. (I have a mechanics stethascope)
A mechanic said he though it was a bad roller and wants to rebuild the top end of the motor for $2500, but I thought a roller would be a fast tap-tap-tap-tap
my noise is much slower than that. Is this a bad roller? or maybe a loose rocker?


I could record the sound and post it if anyone would like to listen to it....

Bill

 

Its really hard to diagnose anything on the internet, but if I had to guess I would think a collapsed lifter which is not uncommon...but like I said its really hard to guess online...

--Alan

 

I would readjust the rockers, maybe a little on the tight side and see if that helps. One or two of mine have started clacking over a month after I've adjusted them a couple times. The clacking is louder when the engine gets hot; due to the heads expanding I assume.

 

How loud is it? Can you hear it like a few cars away? or only when close? How does the engine run?

 

The car runs great. you can't hardly hear it when you are driving but it's quite noticable when you are stopped. I just had the plugs and wires replaced about two weeks ago and I was hoping it was just a loose plug but it wasn't. I even dissconected the plug wire near the exhaust censor thinking it might be arching but the noise was still there.

I have had the car for 6 years, its a 1995 with 107xxx miles and have changed the oil religiously. I never race it either........

I plan on taking to the dealer to get their opinion monday but I have been stressing about it all weekend after the one mechanic said it needs $2400 worth of work. I was mainly looking for some comforting advice to hold me over till monday......