Need help with possible intake phaser noise

[tygerpro357]

Hey everyone, I just joined and I searched to try and figure this out (not a forum newbie) but I cant find anything that sounds like my issue. My wifes has a 03 corolla that is severly neglected (Im surprised it made it 8 years/190k like that) and according to her it started to do a clicking sound (wasnt a click) so I did the usual oil check and added a quart cause it was low but it didnt help (should mention I was working at the time) when I got home from work, i started it up and it was a clacking sound coming from the cylinder 1 area. I had a buddy with an automotive stethiscope check it out and he says its the loudest from about where the cam phaser is. I proceeded to pull the valve cover thinking the timing chain may be the issue. I got it off and from a visual stand point it looks as if nothing is wrong. So this is where I need help, should I take it to a mechanic to get diagnosed, just rebuild the engine, or just get a new engine/car? my buddy said I should take it to a mechanic but I dont really have the kind of time to wait on a mechanic (my wife works 6 days a week and drives 70miles/day and I work 5 to 6 days a week driving 40miles/day) and I would prefer a DIY fix if I could but if I dont have the tools to do a rebuild, then Ill have to contract it out via a mechanic.

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any help/advice
-Tyger


-EDIT- I forgot to mention that the engine is sending plenty of oil into the cylinder head (started the engine with no valve cover and got oil everywhere within 10 seconds and there was a fire extinquisher on hand) and trying to start it with no plugs or injectors does not result in a click or clack type of noise, it starts once the engine speed reaches idle and gets worse with acceleration

[MasterTecInSTL]

It could be a valve, timing chain or variable timing actuator issue. The actuator (phaser) is easy enough to change out.

It's just hard to tell until you start taking things apart...

[tygerpro357]

Originally Posted by MasterTecInSTL

It could be a valve, timing chain or variable timing actuator issue. The actuator (phaser) is easy enough to change out.

It's just hard to tell until you start taking things apart...

The timing chain doesnt seem to have alot of play in it, when I try and pull it up it only moves maybe .75" or less and I would think if it was a valve that I would have some kind of stutter or skipping to the engine which I do not. so that leads me to believe its that actuator. is there a way I can manual unlock it without a air gun to test it though?

-tyger

[tygerpro357]

Sorry for the long delay, but I took the car to a mechanic I trust (family friend and ASE Certified 30+ years) and he said the valves were shot, pistons were mangled, and the engine in general was just a lost cause, it would have cost 2.5k to get it fixed and the thing was only worth 4k so my wife decided to get a new car, she went with a 09 Corolla with power everything and remote start, and got 2500 for her old car with the engine problems.


Tyger