Just checked valve clearances and while cylinders 2 and 3 are fine 1 and 4 have closed up and a couple are at the low end of limits. So why is my top end noisy? I have checked with a listening tube I used to use for twin carbs and I am sure its the tappets and even seems to be Cylinders 2 ad 3 which are bang on spec. I am sure it is not the timing chain. Have listened to other peoples MR2s and they seem much the same.Is it just a very noisy top end? Car has done coming up to 80K.
They are a bit noisy in the valve train, especially when cold. Tight valve indicate wear at the valve seats.
Anybody ever had their valve gear re-shimmed by an expert? Cost? I suppose Mr T would charge about £1000.
I did the exercise on my MR S. It is about a three hour job. It takes quite some time to accurately measure and note each gap. Lifting the cams is not such a big job. The problem is that you don't know which shims you need until you've got them out and put a micrometer on them. Not even a Toyota dealer will have the shims in stock, so then the car has to sit while shims are ordered in.
Our member 'Spit' has quite a collection of used, but useable, buckets. He sent them all to me, so I had them here before I started the job. I also measured all the shims he sent with a micrometer, so now you can just pick out the one you need. Anyway, he has a big selection of ready-measured shims, which he is happy to lend out, on the condition that you return them with any shims you've removed.
I now have a very quiet 1ZZ. Total work time, about three hours. So the job would cost a lot less than £1,000. Only problem is, the job is only as good as the mechanic doing it. Not all dealership mechanics are top-notch, I'm afraid.
You'd be surprised how much 'tappet noise' will go away with a new chain tensioner, btw... you won't pin this noise down even with a stethoscope, as the noise is actually the tensioner chain guide rattling against its stop, and the noise is transmitted throughout the head.