Metallic Noise

[musicbum82]

Hello All,

Long time lurker, have a bit of a mystery on my hands. I have a 93 Camry LE, 2.2 5SFE. I'm getting a metallic clicking sound whenever I let off the gas. I only notice it when the car is in park/neutral. Is this valve lash? Or rod bearings? I know that I have an exhaust leak from the flex pipe, and I'm not sure if the engine is timed properly. I'm really just getting my feet wet with the internals of an engine, I'm researching replacing the crank/camshaft/oil seals when I do a timing belt change.

Thanks

Marc

[frenum49]

Pop the hood and work the throttle by hand while under there. You can get a better idea of what is happening. The ticking sound you are hearing is probably lifter noise. Although this would not explain why you are only hearing it while decelerating in park. If the noise sounds more like it is in the bottom end of the block and is more substantial than just a tick, it is probably a rod bearing. You mentioned replacing oil seals. Has the car been run while low on oil or gone too long between oil changes? The 5SFE likes to throw the #1 rod through the block behind the AC compressor. Also, is the engine running rough? You wrote that you are not sure if the timing is correct. The metallic noise you mention is not from improper timing. These are non-interference engines so they do not bend valves if the timing belt jumps. Unfortunately you may be wasting your money with oil seals and timing belt if the head is hashed or the bottom end is loose. Seals won't fix this condition. Around here a yard 5SFE with 100k miles can be had for $250. If you swap it in yourself, that is a cheap fix. Of course it is best if you can figure out what is actually going on before assuming you need to swap engines. I just hate to see a guy put money into an engine that has one foot in the grave.