Whats the likelihood of valves needing to be adjusted on an (07) automatic tl with 67k? I'm getting a ticking that varies with engine speed and is present when cold and warm. Sounds to me louder than injectors. I took the plastic covers off to try to hear where it's coming from, but can't really tell.

 

Unlikely, but not impossible. Just about every TL I've been around has the slight lifter tick sound. Even when valve adjustments are within spec. I wouldn't worry about it unless it gets louder. However, if you're going to lose sleep over it, have a competent mechanic ensure that you're all set.

Where you located in Virginia?

 

In midlothian/chesterfield/richmond area...oh yeah, it has plenty of oil also

 

it's not tensioner/pulley/belt related either.. started it up temporarily without the belt and still had the noise..so i'm guessing valves now

 

I took my TL to the dealer for the same problem it ended up being a loose spark plug it ruined my coil pack and everything i got the plugs and the coil pack changed and no more ticking car only has 72000 on it

 

Just checked the spark plugs and the front pass side spark plug was somewhat loose. I tightened it and still have the noise. It almost sounds like a motor with low or barely any oil but there is plenty in it. I can hear it from about 20ft away. I worked on a 04 accord coupev6 this am and I popped the hood to hear the motor and it is damn near silent

 

I have the same thing in the mornings, and when the car has been sitting for a while. Sometimes it's loud, and other times it's not. I could never really find an answer to this.

 

I don't know man...I don't think the typical TL tick should be heard from 20ft away... Sounds like something is def suspicious.

 

I had an exhaust leak that sounded like ticking valves.

once, I bolted up the flanges with new gaskets, the ticking noise went away

 

Also, tried using an automotive stethoscope and couldn't really pinpoint where the source was. I did touch it to the coils and the nuts for them and it seemed to get less noisy the farther away from the pass side I got. I could hear it when touched to timing belt covers, valve covers, cylinder head, pretty much everything.

It doesn't go away when warm or above certain rpms, it's always present. I pulled the butterfly for the i.m. and it had slight play to it but I suspect that's the tiny bit of room between the teeth on the gears for it.

Two things I haven't checked are:
-valve clearance
-tensioner and pulley for timing belt

 

problem solved:
dropped it off at wallace automotive and they called me shortly to say it needed valve adjustment. A few valves were way out of spec and they fixed it and put it back together. Noise was still present. Then they thought I bent/tweaked a valve so they were gonna pull the heads. Before doing that, they found a loose bolt on a rocker arm and that is what was making the noise.

 

o wow a loose bolt....wonder how that happened