I have a 1992 Dodge Spirit with a 2.5 motor. Previously on here, i asked what the possible ticking noise was,

Question

and the response was since the car has 143K miles on it, the cam and lifters always make a little noise, and may need to be replaced down the road. The car has always run great, and doesnt smoke either from the exhaust or the oil filler cap. The ticking noise only happens when it idles. When running at any rpm above idle, the noise goes away. I have the car for sale locally for $1400, bottom dollar. A guy (a mechanic, he says), come and looked at the car this evening, insists the noise is the "wrist pins", because he knows. He offered me $900 for the car, since, according to him it needs serious motor work. My response was as far as i know it may be the "cam and lifters". I told him, "Why would you want to buy any car for $900, if it needed all that work?" The car is virtually perfect otherwise, i have maintained it very well. Was he pulling my leg? How would i know for sure if the "wrist pins" were bad? Thank you in advance....

Answer 1

nope, they are notorious for this noise and it can be traced back to the wrist pins. the 2.2L and 2.5L motors had this problem. take the 900

Answer 2

It sounds like he's pulling your leg...or he just might actually think that the problem is the wrist pins. Wrist pins can make a similar sound, but the way you describe the noise it sounds more like lifter cam noise to me. An old trick to " listen" to a noise in a motor etc. might help you. I use to use a breaker bar or a piece of pipe ( when a stethoscope wasn't readily available) and place one end on the valve cover and the other to your ear ( your pick ) and you can hear the noise ( acts like a stethoscope ) and place the bar/pie near the place where the head and engine block meet...listen there...see if there is a difference in the noise level....a kinds , sorta way to narrow it down without a bunch of work and expense. I hope I helped you and good luck.

Answer 3

It could be wrist pins but I still voter for lifters. Stand firm on the price.

Answer 4

what you need to do is take it and have a real good shop listen to it,it is kind of strange he would want to invest in a car that might need an engine,it probably don't,,since i cant hear it run, i cant tell you ,but get a shop you can trust to listen to it for you,he may be trying to talk you out of your car,good luck on it.

Answer 5

It could be the valves. Weak oil pump? Low oil?
It could also be a major problem...
Good luck!