What could it be? Clicking noise on Toyota Camry 97 LE, on head. Could it be valve lifters bad or valve adj?

Question

First of all, thanks for all your help recently. Anyway, hopefully you can help me with this too. I recently just purchased a used Toyota Camry 97 LE car and it's making some clicking sounds on the inside the engine head when I step on the gass. The heavier I step on the gas the faster the clicking sound. I took it to 2 gas-station car-fixing shops and both technicians thought that the valve lifters needed to be replaced but they weren't exactly sure. I then took it to a dealer and the service advisor (not a technician, he's the person who schedules appointments for technicians) and he said he never had to replace the valve lifters on a Toyota before, and that he had been there a few years already. He said if anything, it should be that the valve needed an adjustment. He wanted $120 just to diagnose it. These things are expensive so I was trying to avoid having to pay $120 just for diagnostic. Do you happen to know what this problem could be? Please help. I appreciate it.

Answer 1

On that car you do not have lifters, nor are the valves easily adjustable.

The cam lobes ride directly on top of the valves. There are "caps" which fit over the valve springs and they have small shims in the end that contacts the cam lobe. The clearance is measured and the shims are replaced with thicker or thinner as needed. These don't wear out or get "out of adjustment" unless a cam lobe is worn down, or a valve face has burned.

There is a service bulletin warning not to bend the internal baffel under the valve cover when filling with oil. I have seen these bend and ride on the cam causing a click.

Don't overlook an exhaust leak. That can mimic the sound you describe.

Take it to someone who is familiar with the Camry.

Answer 2

Toyota Camry 97

Answer 3

I have had this problem twice and it was the timing belt and water pump. There is a bearing that goes bad in the pump and the clicking you hear is the timing belt and timing belt idler being pulled back from the worn out bearing you need to get it replaced or checked out a.s.a.p if you think it is a lifter go and spend $8 and buy some Lucas Oil Treatment at your local auto parts store and put some in if the noise does not lessen or go away then you probably got the timing belt/water pump problem they say you should change them every 100,000 miles but they go bad around every 65 to 85,000 that will cost you around $400 to have it done,but thats all I ever had to do to my 98 Camry.

Answer 4

off hand it sound like a liftter is weak,, but too one of the val are could be wore out,if you look at that an the dont help it going to be the cam ,wore

Answer 5

if there oil in it sounds like a lifter is loose or worn out from lack of oil