lifter ticking is it bad

[cjmoral]

I just heard a ticking coming from my car the other day and I popped the hood and listned you can hear a ticking coming from the left valve cover and it's pretty loud it's definatly noticable.I listened to the right valve cover and it sounds different it sounds like you can hear the rockers and the springs going up and down a slight ticking but much louder on the left valve cover.Could it just need adjusting or a newe lifter if so any ideas qas to how much this will run at the dealership thanks

[FANTA-Z]

Its not real good if its actually a lifter. Reason being it will round off your lobe on your cam where that lifter is. Are you positive that its not an exhaust leak?

[MeanGreen94Z]

DONT go to a dealership ...i work for a GM dealership and it will KILL your wallet

[94Zdemon]

take off the valve cover and start the car and than listin to it closer than you will have a better idea if its a lifter or not. 4th gens are known to start having exhaust leaks near the rear drivers side


put your hand in the back, when you first start the car. dont want to have your skin part of the exhaust,

and see if you can feel anything being pushed out!

[Menekali]

I have a ticking too. It's just an exhaust leak comming from my manifold though. Noticible, but me and Gregg are fixing it this week. It could be that man. If you're bass in the car kicks real hard, turn on a heavy song, and listen for any ratling comming around the general area you hear the ticking.

[edman]

If the ticking is very loud like mine was, then be prepared for a cam swap! My noise seemed more like it came from the gut of the engine. When I pulled the rocker cover off, the ticking still was not directly heard, but was loud. I had to put a stethescope directly on the rocker stud to find the bad lifter. Just for checking, when I backed off the rocker to unload the lifter, it started to get quieter. On teardown, the lifter had a detroyed roller. The cam had a valley ground into the nose of the lobe. My guess is casting flash or other debris got caught between the lobe and roller. Hope this is not what you are experiencing!!!

[Bowtie_Z28]

Definitally check for a leaking exhaust, without starting it you can also feel around for and then look at your hand to see if you find any carbon, if you do good chances it is a leak and feel in that area for the exhaust leaking with the car on, this will help eliminate the easy stuff for ya.

[cjmoral]

well I LISTENED TO IT AGAIN TODAY IT DOESN;T DO IT UNTIL IT'S WARMED UP.It's not areally really loud ticking but if you really listen to the car outside you can hear the ticking.I popperd the hood and you can hear it coming from the valve cover.I don't think it's an exhaust leak but I have to see any ideas on how much gm charges to readjust your lifters and rockers

[Bowtie_Z28]

If it isn't doing it until warmed up I would say it is an exhaust leak as well.

[94Zdemon]

buy a haynes or chiltins if you dont already hava one that is and a torqs or just a socket wrench and you can adjust the rockers very eaisly. the book will tell you the exact specs they need to be adjusted to.

[Paulster2]

Originally Posted by MeanGreen94Z

DONT go to a dealership ...i work for a GM dealership and it will KILL your wallet

LOL! Thanks for the advice!

[cjmoral]

well I called the guy that put rebuilt my motor he didn't pick up but I left him a message and am going to bring it in.He should be able to fix it without a problem but I don't want to hear his ****************.If it's not a lifter what else could it be a loose rocker or they just need adjustment and how bad is this for your car because I've been driving like this for a few weeks

[Wild Willy]

Noisy rockers aren't too bad, it's the tight ones that burn valves. Still not great, but, as long as there isn't too much slop, not the end of the world. I would hold the RPM's down until fixxed, though-

[86RedRocket]

DO NOT start the car w/the valve covers off, or you'll be in for a big mess. Oil is fed to the head through the push rods and will be squirting out everywhere if it's running.

[BALLSS]

1. It could be a exhaust leak which will only cause performance loss and foul a plug. You want to fix the leak.

2. You can pull valve covers off and at idle there will be no to very little oil spray.

3. Use a stethascope on each rocker stud to isolate where the ticking sound is coming from. Stop motor and turn by hand the crank hub bolt until that valve is on the base of the cam lobe. If the rocker is "loose" then you need to adjust it. If it is tight....as others have said it is the lifter. There is a good posibility the lifter will wipe a cam lobe.....you will need to COMPLETELY rebuild the motor.

4. Buy a Haynes service book. It will outline how to adjust the valves and trouble shoot the motor.

5. There is a good posibility the lifter simply does not pump up any more and the roller tip is fin...thus meaning your cam is fine. You need to pull the intake manifold off and then the lifters out to inspect. Then use a pen light to look down the bore where the lifter is from while someone slowly turns the motor over by hand and see if there is ANY wear on the cam lobe. If there is wear....your motor needs a rebuild since metel went through it. All bearings will be scared.