accord 96 tapping engine sound

[chatranger]

Hello I have a honda accord 1996, v4, 2.2l (no vtech ). is making this tapping sound on the engine. When it starts it runs fine but when the engine goes into idle it starts to do the tapping soung. I tried to listen to see where it comes from and it comes from inside the engine. What can it be?

Any help would be appretiated. Thanks in advance.

[Igovert500]

Hmm could be lots of things. From a little lifter tick, to an expensive spun bearing. Your best bet is to take it to a mechanic you trust and have them listen to it. But report thier diagnosis back here before shelling out money.

[chatranger]

Well I took it to a mechanic and he told me that the rocker and the valve is a little loose and that I need to replace it. But can they be adjusted ? I asked him that and he said that no, that it sounds like it needs to be replace and it will cost me $450.

What do you think?
If the valve can be adjusted and the rocker replace can I do it myself. I have some experience with cars but Inever opened a motor. But I learn fast and not afraid to try it.

[ProMan]

I believe most valve clearance can be adjusted. Replacement should not be necessary. To adjust the gap is not difficult. You need a feeler gauge at least.

[jeffcoslacker]

Change Your Oil.

I don't know if you have adjustable mechanical valve clearance or not, but even if not, it would have hydraulic cam followers, which can be pricey but very easy to replace. The Geo Metro engines had a lot of problems with them, the replacement part was about the size of a .22 lr shell, and cost $150 or more. Personally I'd take it out, clean it and try it again before I'd spend all that on one. If it started doing this suddenly, rather than building up to it, my take is that you either have a collapsed hydraulic follower (if that motor has them), or a valve train component that is lacking in oiling for some reason.

You said you don't hear it on cold start, but rather as it idles down, that's good. Bad bearings and other serious stuff will usually rattle like hell until the oil pressure builds, then quiet somewhat. The pattern you laid out is more typical of a non-critical top end noise.

If you feel daring, you can pull the valve cover off and start the motor, then apply a little pressure to each rocker while it runs, I use the head of a rubber mallet, or sometimes just my thumb, when you load the noisy one it will quiet down a little. Then you at least know which one you're looking for. If it has hyd followers, you can try manually compressing and releasing it a few times while bathing it with WD-40 or tranny fluid, sometimes that alone is enough to force a blockage out of them and get it to reprime. Some people would just hit the follower side of the rocker with a rubber mallet while it idled to do the same thing (compress and release it) and that would work sometimes. I never tried it, but I can see it working in some cases.

Boy I just gave you a bunch of useless info if that motor has mechanical tappet clearance. I'm ashamed to admit I just don't remember on that motor. But since my mom has one that has never required a valve adjustment in 100,000 miles, I doubt that it is. I wonder, does Honda use roller rockers/tappets? Maybe that's what your mech was trying to say. I don't know. It's rare, but sometimes the needle bearings in rollers will fail, and nasty clicking and poor valve actuation results. It would be a costly part, but easy labor. I love OHC engines for that reason alone. Hell, put a performance cam in there while your at it.