So my motor has a nice little tick to it when it's running (obviously). It has 234K miles on it, so I'm guessing the chain guides probably aren't in the greatest of shape. Would the chain make a ticking noise if it was rubbing the front cover? Or could the valves be out of adjustment (do they even need adjusting?)?.

How hard to yank the valve cover for a look-see, and should I just get a regular parts-store replacement VC gasket? I ask because from my 2.3T background, there are some VC gaskets that just plain suck.

Brian

 

the valve cover is meant to be periodically removed to adjust the valves, since the valvetrain is solid and it's notoriously loud, so the gasket is just a big rubber o-ring. only reason to replace it is if it's leaking. the fuel injectors also make a fair amount of noise, so consider that.

valve cover isn't too bad to remove, just get anything out of the way that's on top of it(usually PCV, throttle linkage sometimes, vacuum hoses etc) and loose the 4 nuts. it'll be easy to see if the timing set needs to be replaced -- shine a flashlight down the front of the engine and if the guides are intact, it's probably fine. if they're broken, usually you'll see what looks like a couple bright silver rails carved into the right hand side of the timing cover.

 

Excellent, thanks. I'll shoot for that when I have some time this weekend.

If the guides are currently fine (which I kinda doubt), is there anything that'll show that they might be about to crap out?

Brian

 

look and see how badly they are scored. might be an indicator, i think they just get brittle and break. i prefer to use a timing set that has at least a steel guide on the driver's side to prevent that issue.

 

Might also check for exhaust leak, they tend to sound alot like valve tiking.

93 yota 4x4 extended cab
new 22re with problems
See thread"22re is toast"