Ticking sound Options

[Amanda66]

Ok someone please help me I'm at a loss here. Pretty much every time I start my car it makes a rattling noise, also when I get up to about 3000rpm it makes the same noise until I shift or left off the gas and let the R's go down a bit. Anyone else have or had this problem and know what it might be? I pulled the valve cover to see if my valves are adjustable...they are not. I have the 1.8L 7AFE motor. Please anything would be appreciated. I have to get this motor to last at leaset until tax time so I can get my 3SGTE...

[Special_Edy]

You can buy a set of feeler gauges for around $5 from the autoparts store. I know for certain on the 2.2L 5SFE you need the feeler gauge set that is specifically for valve shims( it has a 45° bend on the end), but Im not sure its absolutely necessary for the 1.8L 7AFE. You have to measure half the valves clearances then turn the engine over 1 full revolution and measure the other half.
If the shims are out of clearance and you decide to swap them yourself, You can then use a large screwdriver to push the valve lifter down so that you can use a small screwdriver and magnet to get the shim out. Next step is to use a caliper tool to measure the thickness of the shims that are out of clearance. You should be able to swap most around to get to the right clearance but you may need to order a few that you dont have.

Anyways its not hard at all, kinda tricky pushing the lifter down with a screwdriver though. A little bit of valvetrain noise is annoying but not necessarily a bad thing. Just try not to let it worry you, all of our four cylinders are noisy as hell.