4a-ge engine rattle

[firestarter59]

As i mentioned in my last post my engine rattles and someone has suggested its a tappet rattle. Just wondering if someone can tell me what that is and how it can be fixed? could someone aslo try and decribe what a tappet rattle sounds like for me?

ie. can i do it myself or am i going to have to pay a mechanic to do it for me?

[REN69]

a whaaaaaaat?

If anything rattles, its probably rusted heatshields.

[tashirosgt]

I think "tappet rattle" would translate, in the US, to improper valve clearance. Yes, a home mechanic can check and adjust the valve clearance for himself. But the cam lobes and the shims (tappets) they ride on are very durable in the 4a-fe engine and I assume they are as hard in the 4a-ge. Even after 200,000 miles of normal driving they hardly show any wear. On a statistical basis, one would not expect a rattle in the average Corolla engine to be caused by a valve clearance problem. Has anything unusal happened to your engine? - extreme overheating? run while low on oil? If, not then start by checking the heat shields as Ren69 suggests.

[REN69]

ah.. valves.. no that wouldn't be a rattle then.. lose valves would translate to a ticking noise, not a rattle.

[Flashmn]

Well.. considering a 4A-GE doesnt have tappets and has direct cam to valve actuation that would take the bottom off the arguement of them being tappets.
It might be the bottom end bearings starting to fail or it might be pistonslap. Then again having not heard it, thats just guessing.

[SR5_4WD]

I am experiencing the same exact thing right now. It's the heat sheild for yer exhaust manifold. I know thats what it is for me, because now I have a clampm holding it snuggly in place and the noise is gone. If the rattle on your car exists between 1600-2500rpms thats probably what it is. Good luck

[firestarter59]

yea that sounds about right. dont spose anyone could tell me where ill find the heat shield? (not very mechanically inclined u c)

[REN69]

you'll find heatshields anywhere along the exhaust pipes.. one or two on the manifold, and one on the catalytic converter.. there could be more though, you never know until you look.

[tashirosgt]

Here are two of the heat shields. Look at the "exhaust manifold upper insulator" and "exhaust manifold lower insulator"
http://old.soliton.net/old/images/tu...ge-cylhead.gif
(Raise the hood, stand in front of your car and look just beyond the radiator. There is the exhaust manifold upper insulator)

[firestarter59]

thanks for the help. tightened the heatsheilds still no luck. im pretty sure the sound is coming from where the throttle body attaches to the engine.

could it be anything else any1 can think of? im open to all options at this point.

also in one of my other threads someone requested some pics so here ya go...
http://www.fotothing.com/firestarter59/

i also have a windows media file containing the sound my engines making if anyone thinks they'll b able to help after hearing that leave me your email address and ill send it out...