Hi I recently purchased a 05 TL with 173k.

From what I've heard it needs a valve adjustment.
Car makes a slight rattling noise from the passenger side engine bay.
Inside the car a slight vibration can be felt at idle or stopping at light.

I touched the engine the other day and I can tell it shaking very slightly.
The noise is just bothersome it's not loud. Just tick tick.

Timing belt was done at 150k
Wondering if it's alright to drive as is until next TB service?

There's no performance issue at all which is why I didn't want to spend any money but if it's going to hurt the car then I guess I could get it adjusted.

 

usually; valves will still be in spec.

the exhaust valves might be a little tight. but usually; they dont get soo out of spec, that you absolutely need it.

 

have you checked your motor mounts?

if you can feel vibrations; motor mounts might be shot

 

Guys the noise is exact same as this but a little louder.


MINUTE 35

 

The person I bought it from replaced center and right mount.

 

Check your plugs to make sure they are tight, especially the center front one (by radiator).

Loose plugs sound a lot like valves and its a common problem for us.

 

If you have the budget for it, why not do a valve adjustment? I did a valve adjustment on my 99 Accord V6 after 240K miles and two timing belt changes... It sounds so damn quiet on idle, it's ridiculous for a 16 year old car. A lot of people say it's unnecessary but it won't hurt your car.. (just your wallet)


Also.. Service manual says Timing Belt service at 7 years or 105K. You have a 2005 Tl at 173K. The fact that they waited until 150K is a little bit scary but that means only 23K miles have passed.. I'll let you do the math on whether or not a TB is necessary at this point

 

She did the TB at 100k and 150k I do not know why the second one was done so quickly.

 

You're talking about spark plugs, correct? Sorry I know I'm a noob lol.

 

Ohh!! I forgot I read that.. Then you'll be fine. Just watch the MID and do it only when it says you need to.


Yeah he means the spark plugs. Our engines have notorious issue of loosening that front center spark plug for some reason. I forgot about that! Thanks FamilyGuy! Check that yourself before doing valve adjustment. Should only take a few 10mm bolts and a spark plug socket + 6" socket extension. Maybe allen key for your year, Mine had a bolt.

 

No, it doesn't....

 

Please not that valve adjustment convo again...

 

Valve adjustment helps. Your engine will be happy.

 

Yea spark plugs. Mine was loose too few weeks back, sounded just like a valve tick. Worth a check before committing to a valve adjust.

 

Thank you. Didn't even know they can make noise.. LOL I will check when I do the pressure switches.

 

Should I inspect the back ones too?

 

Also, I don't know if it narrows it but the noise isn't there when the engine is really cold like every morning. It gets to its loudest when the engine is at it's operating temp.

 

Usually it's the front center one that gets loose. With any luck, it'll be loose and noise gone once tightened (you'll still hear the valves but that's normal, not a loud version of it).

If the front center is tight check the other front 2. If all are tight it may not be the plugs. The rears are a bit of a pain to check but at this point you might as well check all 6. At least this way you'll feel better about paying for a valve adjust.

Check that front center plug today. If it pops off it'll take some of the threads with it and you may need to replace the head at that point. You don't want to do that

 

Lol true.

 

Since we are on the topic, what is a way to tell if it has been done or not? (assuming no sounds, or other symptoms of them being off)

I thought I came across something awhile back about if a bolt somewhere looks like it has been removed, then the adjustment had probably been done. I can't find the thread now..

 

With so many controlled explosions going on every second, how can you expect to not feel any vibrations or shaking when touching the motor? lol

J series are known to be on the noisy side of things

 

It seems like valve adjustments are not really necessary. It is a extra thing when doing timing belt jobs. The guy in the video even says it's better to leave them loose than to overtighten them.

 

OP, same answer I gave you in your other thread...

 

Yup i know lol

 

Vibrations are damped a lot by the rear engine mount. If it's bad then that's the cause.

The J series engines tick slightly but it shouldn't be anything to worry about.

Check if the timing belt tensioner was replaced along with the accessory belt tensioner.

FYI the manual states to do the service at 105K, then every 60K thereafter.

Adjust the valves every 105K and you'll be fine, same with the TB service, 60K is short interval.

 

OP, your fuel economy will slightly improve with a valve adjustment. I started doing it yearly after a friend of mine said he saves about 4-500 bucks a year on fuel by doing so. He drives A TON every year though with his Toyota 4runner.

Valves do go out of spec fairly easily. I do one yearly now and they're always off a bit. Waiting to do one every time you do a TB replacement means they'll likely be out even more.

Beyond a slight improvement in fuel economy, and less chatter from your engine, not much else will change. I don't think our valves would go so far out of spec to cause damage. Is it necessary to do it yearly? Hell no. I'm just anal that way, lol.

Also, don't listen to NFN. He's going by some ridiculous interpretation of the words in our owners manual, rather than using logic and common sense. "inspect valves" apparently does not mean "adjust valves"

 

I don't think you can really tell until you dig into the engine and check for yourself. Bolts don't always look like they were tampered with, so I wouldn't rely on that as being gospel.

 

Yeah, don't listen to me:

 

Sorry, but I see nothing in the manual stating 105k miles then every 60k miles.
Under what we all consider normal, not extreme high/low driving conditions, the spark plugs, timing belt, valve adjustment if needed, are all grouped within "4" maintenance minder.
In fact, valve adjustment is recommended if noisy during services A, B, 1, 2, or 3, or in my opinion, anytime they're considered noisy.