Hi everyone, I have a 1997 2.2L 5-speed.

Heres the deal, at first i thought it was the tensioner going, it isnt i took a whole 2 seconds and listened closer and this is deffinately coming from more of the valve cover area, not down by the passenger wheel. . .

. . . anyways, My car makes this very quiet ticking noise at idle, when i rev it under NO load it doesnt make it any louder, when im driving and rev it up it makes a loud ticking noise between about 2300-4000 rpms, after 4000 it goes away, if i hold my car in say 2nd gear at 3500 rpms (where you can really here the noise when accelerating) it wont make this noise. .. .

Tonight at a friends i used some Sea Foam for the first time, put it in the vaccum hose that goes to the brakes. The ticking noise didnt get better, if not a little worse. My car seems to run better though and accelerates better also, but now this ticking noise seems to be more pronouced.

Sorry for the extremely lengthly post
Thanks in advance for any thoughts on my dilemma
Jason


2.2 OHV

nothing?


2.2 OHV

i dont mean to sound like a smart ace but have u checked you oil level?

RattDadd- E wrote:i dont mean to sound like a smart ace but have u checked you oil level?

Yep, oil was perfect. But i changed it anyways and its still making the noise


2.2 OHV

Well, since no one really has had a problem like this. I'm probably going to save up for a little while for a rebuild cylinder head off of ebay for $250 and hope for the best. . . . .


2.2 OHV

again.. sounds like the timing chain clap every 2.2 OHV suffers from....

SLO CAV (the slo one) wrote:again.. sounds like the timing chain clap every 2.2 OHV suffers from....

I really thought that too, but just to make sure if this was the case the noise would be coming from the passenger side of the car, near the place cover that is what the timing chain hits on??

This noise it pretty much dead center of my motor, really really sounds like valve train or maybe injectors??


2.2 OHV

if the injectors are working you should hear a tick bu it shouldnt be loud enough to really hear it unless your ear is to it.

Yeah, im pretty sure its not injectors.

Next week sometime i think im going to pull the valve cover off and see if one of my rockers has losened up for some reason or another. . . .


2.2 OHV

http://auto-rx.com/index.html


see ya!

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=003792


see ya!

If i can find this stuff some where locally I'll buy it and give it a shot

thank you novaracer


2.2 OHV

Just ordered it. . . . . little pricey at $25 but if it works it will be more than worth it, ill keep everyone updated when i get it


2.2 OHV

your welcome and good luck. that stuff works wounders.


see ya!

decided to try this stuff, even if it works going to start saving for a newer(05-06) Saturn Ion Quad-Coupe, giving up on the cavalier


2.2 OHV

putting sea foam in your vacuum lines isn't going to unstick a valve....when is the last time you changed your oil? i'd try to change the oil and see if that helps if not run some sea foam through the car and then change the oil again....if that doesn't work put some lucas oil treatment in there...

I just changed the oil, I put 1/4 can of seafoam in the oil, 1/2 threw the vaccum line, and the last 1/4 in the gas. after the oil change it does sound some what better, and will give the lucas oil treatment a shot if the auto-rx doesnt help


2.2 OHV

What is sea foam, and what does it do? sorry; never heard of it





98 j-body sedan

Sea Foam is suppose to be this cleaning stuff, Im really bad at explaining things. Do a search and I know a ton of things will come up about it


2.2 OHV

it could be your throw out bearing on the clutch?



maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow....... but some day

GM has a TSB about pistons 'rocking' in their bores, aka piston slap. Some owners have it worse than others. When under warranty, there is a rebuild with oversized pistons -- VERY involved. I get the ticking every now and then, but never too severe. Always goes away once the engine is warmed up. With the higher mileage on your engine, they may have 'worn' to a certain extent. Even if broken-in carefully, the ticking may still crop up.

DartBaron wrote:GM has a TSB about pistons 'rocking' in their bores, aka piston slap. Some owners have it worse than others. When under warranty, there is a rebuild with oversized pistons -- VERY involved. I get the ticking every now and then, but never too severe. Always goes away once the engine is warmed up. With the higher mileage on your engine, they may have 'worn' to a certain extent. Even if broken-in carefully, the ticking may still crop up.

That kind of does make sense, Thank you for the good info. I figure the car still seems to run just fine just that stupid noise drives me crazy but i dont think ill worry about it any more


2.2 OHV

If you want, pull the head, drop the pan, and replace the pistons yourself. Easier said than done, but that's the jist. I didn't save the TSB while I was subscribed to AllData, so you'll haveta look for it. They had all the parts needed listed as well as time estimates. Not sure how well it'd work for you, but Prestone's 'Restore' (silver cylinder package) may help 'cause they tout a little wear restoration. Could help tighten up those bores, if only a little. Up to you. I'd definately recomend testing the compression first before anything.

Sound like a common GM OHV issue. One or more of the following could have happened.
1) Hydrolic Lifter(s) scared.
2) Push Rod(s) Bent.
3) Rocker Arm(s) Gone.
4) Timing Chain Streached


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