It’s a 4-cyl I4 petrol engine ('95 Mazda 626) with a ticking noise that matches with revs. I’ve had it for a while and it seems to be getting louder as time goes on. It doesn’t go away even after longer drives.
The workshop I’ve used previously haven’t highlighted it when I had the car in for an inspection, but after a recent incident it seems like they’re rather incompetent unfortunately so I’d like some advice on this!
Thanks :)
#update x1
Spoke to the shop again and fished a bit for info. Guy at the desk re-confirmed that the gaiter was busted when I went there, and got rather apologetic when I pointed out that it wasn’t.
They claim that they did notice the lifter tick but said that “it’s common for older cars but you don’t need to worry about it, and it’s a lot of work to fix it”, hence why they didn’t point it out.
I’ll probably postpone looking into this fully until after the road trip.
It sounds like “lifter tick” to me. I believe that the 626 has hydraulic lifters, and over time the get gummed up and oil isn’t able to get into them as well as before. It’s possible to remove and clean them but that involves removing the valve cover. I know a lot of people in the Miata community (which have similar engines) find that other than the sound there isn’t really a problem and just live with it. I’m less sure about that for the 626.
I second the lifter tick diagnosis.
Thanks for taking a listen.
Well, right now I’m not sure what I can do about it. We’re about to head off on a 1’600km road trip in two or three days.
I will however be giving the shop a chewing out as they’ve had the car in several times (they’re the ones who did the timing belt) most recently explicitly to inspect the car for issues. They didn’t mention this at all but wanted 800€ to replace a busted steering rack gaiter that wasn’t busted -_-
Internet searching suggest:
running some kind of additive in the oil (?)
cleaning the hydraulic lifters and oil channels
replacing the hydraulic lifters
I have access to a full factory workshop manual for the car and basic tools, maybe taking the top off and cleaning them is a feasible DIY job?
Almost anything on a car is feasible to diy imo, depending on time and tools
Bending frames straight and such might not be, but anything that just needs bolts is definitely possible.
Oh for sure, just different amounts of scary. Seems like getting at the lifters requires partially dismounting the timing belt & lifting the cam which isn’t something I’ve done before and requires a special tool (?) to tension the belt when reassembling.