Valve adjust 1999 4cyl. Camry
To all
My 1999 Camry 4 cyl has 90,000 miles. As part of my own 90,000 mi check up, I checked the valve clearances. Most were at the high side of the tolerence (exhaust tolerence =.011 to.015 In, intake .007 to .o11).
Right now all of my intakes measure .010 to .011 and exhausts measure .015 to .016.
I want to do this job myself , so I bought a valve adjust tool from Matco (Matco part No MST 8825). It consists of a plier like tool used to compress the lifter and a thin steel finger like spacer tool used to hold the lifter down after it is compressed while one removes the shim for measuring.
Well I tried for hours and hours and could not get these tools to work. The plier tool compressed the lifter alright but left vey little room to manuveur the spacer tool into place. When I was lucky, I could just barely get the spacer tool wedged between the lifter bucket (the bucket holds the shim) and the cam casting surface.
Getting the spacer tool in place was always very difficult and every time I was able to get it in place, it soon moved or twisted letting the lifter "snap" back to decompress. I was not able to get one single shim out. Even when I was able to get the spacer tool on the bucket and it remained compresses, the shim would not budge. Clearaces were miserable, very little room to work. It was very difficult to see where the spacer tool should be and impossible to "feel" for its position. I finally gave up.
Could any of you please tell me where I am going wrong. I am an accomplished machinist and mechanic. It is not like I do not have skill. Letting this project get the best of me was VERY disappointing.
I have several questions:
Has anybody out there actually adjusted the valves on 99 Camry 4cyl (5SFE engine)? How? What tools did you use?
Am I using the right tools. I used Matco's MST8825.
If somehow I am able to change out shims for a valve adjust, at what end of the tolerence spread should I shoot for and why? Should I shoot for the most or the least setting distance between the shim and cam lobe? Why? I am prone to go for the least (intake .007-.011 and exhaust .011- .015) i.e go for .007 on intake and .011 on exhaust.
Note: Right now all of my intakes are at .010 or .011 and all my exhaust are at .015 or .016.
Would it not actually be quicker and easier to just remove the two cam shafts THEN measure the shims than to go through all the gyrations it seems are required to use the lifter compression pliers and long spacer?
Any instructions or suggestions would be appreciated.
Finally, since the valves on this car are starting to get a bit noisy, I am going to adjust them. I want to do it myself for two reasons: (a) I do not trust the dealer i.e. I do not want to remove the valve cover and check their work and take it back if not up to par and (b) I do not want to pay the dealer $300. I am retired and I have more time than money.
Thanks everyone in advance
Joe
My 1999 Camry 4 cyl has 90,000 miles. As part of my own 90,000 mi check up, I checked the valve clearances. Most were at the high side of the tolerence (exhaust tolerence =.011 to.015 In, intake .007 to .o11).
Right now all of my intakes measure .010 to .011 and exhausts measure .015 to .016.
I want to do this job myself , so I bought a valve adjust tool from Matco (Matco part No MST 8825). It consists of a plier like tool used to compress the lifter and a thin steel finger like spacer tool used to hold the lifter down after it is compressed while one removes the shim for measuring.
Well I tried for hours and hours and could not get these tools to work. The plier tool compressed the lifter alright but left vey little room to manuveur the spacer tool into place. When I was lucky, I could just barely get the spacer tool wedged between the lifter bucket (the bucket holds the shim) and the cam casting surface.
Getting the spacer tool in place was always very difficult and every time I was able to get it in place, it soon moved or twisted letting the lifter "snap" back to decompress. I was not able to get one single shim out. Even when I was able to get the spacer tool on the bucket and it remained compresses, the shim would not budge. Clearaces were miserable, very little room to work. It was very difficult to see where the spacer tool should be and impossible to "feel" for its position. I finally gave up.
Could any of you please tell me where I am going wrong. I am an accomplished machinist and mechanic. It is not like I do not have skill. Letting this project get the best of me was VERY disappointing.
I have several questions:
Has anybody out there actually adjusted the valves on 99 Camry 4cyl (5SFE engine)? How? What tools did you use?
Am I using the right tools. I used Matco's MST8825.
If somehow I am able to change out shims for a valve adjust, at what end of the tolerence spread should I shoot for and why? Should I shoot for the most or the least setting distance between the shim and cam lobe? Why? I am prone to go for the least (intake .007-.011 and exhaust .011- .015) i.e go for .007 on intake and .011 on exhaust.
Note: Right now all of my intakes are at .010 or .011 and all my exhaust are at .015 or .016.
Would it not actually be quicker and easier to just remove the two cam shafts THEN measure the shims than to go through all the gyrations it seems are required to use the lifter compression pliers and long spacer?
Any instructions or suggestions would be appreciated.
Finally, since the valves on this car are starting to get a bit noisy, I am going to adjust them. I want to do it myself for two reasons: (a) I do not trust the dealer i.e. I do not want to remove the valve cover and check their work and take it back if not up to par and (b) I do not want to pay the dealer $300. I am retired and I have more time than money.
Thanks everyone in advance
Joe
