recommend service in las vegas for valve ticking in 2003 echo

[theom]

I need to take my 90 thousand mile 2003 Echo automatic in for a ticking valve train.
I hear nightmares about the dealer service departments here.

So can anyone recommend good toyota service experiences in Las Vegas? Dealer or otherwise?

We moved here recently, the car is in good running order, has had all regular maintenance.

The noise is a faint ticking when in gear, but stopped waiting at idle for traffic lights. It doesn't go away after warm up.

Not sure if all 2003 echos have the VVT that I've read have had $1000 valve adjustment fees! Yikes I hope that's not us.

Any help would be great.

Thanks,
Theo

[denman]

Originally Posted by theom

I need to take my 90 thousand mile 2003 Echo automatic in for a ticking valve train.
I hear nightmares about the dealer service departments here.

So can anyone recommend good toyota service experiences in Las Vegas? Dealer or otherwise?

We moved here recently, the car is in good running order, has had all regular maintenance.

The noise is a faint ticking when in gear, but stopped waiting at idle for traffic lights. It doesn't go away after warm up.

Not sure if all 2003 echos have the VVT that I've read have had $1000 valve adjustment fees! Yikes I hope that's not us.

Any help would be great.

Thanks,
Theo

If it's running OK other than that, turn the radio up. The VVT is a reliable system, but the valve adjustment is a major pain and has little to offer in terms of power or economy. FWIW .... Dennis

[theom]

So, It's a good thing to look under hood.

Battery hold down was loose.
Well, it sounded like a valve ticking!

[Yaris Hilton]

All 1NZ-FE engines (used in Echos, Yarises and Scion xAs) use that system where the camshafts have to be removed and the lifters exchanged to adjust the valves. If it ticks, let it.

[denman]

Originally Posted by theom

So, It's a good thing to look under hood.

Battery hold down was loose.
Well, it sounded like a valve ticking!

.... glad it worked out for you, .... I was the same way, no problems= no look-under-hood. Now that I've installed a few upgrades and done some long-term maintenance I'm more at ease with my "tiny perfect car".

[jambo101]

Try a different weight oil before bringing it to a Mechanic,try 10W-40

[Yaris Hilton]

Even in Vegas, I'd stick with the recommended 5W-30. The engine's not hot all the time, and at lower temperatures the multivis flows better. Quicker lubrication to the valvetrain on startup, and the oil-actuated mechanism that advances and retards the intake cam timing will work more the way it's supposed to. (Yeah, it doesn't start working till the "COOL" light goes off, but that's not at full operating temperature.)

[denman]

I'm with YH on this one, .... the ambient temperature has less to do with oil selection than it used to in the days before stable viscosity improver additives, particularly at the hot end. Run synthetic 5W30 if you're concerned.