'03 Cavalier with slight ticking (Lifter? Timing? Tensioner?)

[Bailesie]

It's easier to post a video I took in order to convey just what exactly my car is doing. It's been this way for about two months and hasn't gotten any worse, thankfully *knock on wood*

Please check it out and let me know your thoughts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs2SkIowmwQ

Thanks!

-Shawn

[J-Ri]

Alright, a video! Much better than hundreds of words comparing noises to things I've never heard.

Pull the belt off just to make sure it's not something belt driven. Get an automotive stethoscope and listen around and see where the noise is the loudest. A long screwdriver with the handle held to your ear will work, but the stethoscope works much better. It sure sounds like the chain is loose and slapping around inside the cover, but I had a 2.4 "Quad-4" that made a very similar sound up until it threw a chunk of a rod through the side of the block.

Also, get that Lucas out of there. It foams up going through the oil pump and some of the oil is replaced with air... not good for anything lubricated. Their display at the auto parts store looks great... and it probably would be if your engine was a hand crank operated at 100 RPM