1989 Camry making Loud clacking noise!!!

[JOET/CAMRY]

Hello, I have a 1989 Camry with 171,000 miles on it. This morning I tried to start the car and it turned over fine but was sputtering and having a difficult time trying to start. while it was turning over the engine was clacking and making a light banging noise. after about three attempts to start the engine it finally stayed running but ran rough. the noises continued and slowly dissapeared after about 3 minutes of engine idling. I didn't want to hit the gas pedal with engine acting up; and cause further damage. I lifted the hood while car was running bad and the sound seamed to be coming from underneath the valve cover. I drove the car about five miles once engine running fine and seemed to be ok. I don't think it's going to fix itself permanently. The car has been running great up until this happened. By the way the oil level was fine. Does anyone know what could be the problem. any help/advice will be appreciated. Thank you.. JOET/CAMRY

[Brian R.]

Does it make these noises everytime you start it?

First thing - Check your oil pressure. Maybe time for a new oil pump along with a timing belt, or your bearings may be getting too loose. That falls under the "bad" category.

How long since your last oil change?

Check your compression.

[JOET/CAMRY]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

Does it make these noises everytime you start it?

First thing - Check your oil pressure. Maybe time for a new oil pump along with a timing belt, or your bearings may be getting too loose. That falls under the "bad" category.

How long since your last oil change?

Check your compression.

Hello Brian, thanks for responding to the post. The car engine does not make noise everytime I start it. started the car this morning and ran fine. I change engine oil every 5,000 miles. car was bought new by my Dad in 1989 before I inherited it once he bought a brand new 2003 Camry. It has always been taken care of and never beat on/abused. I will do a search of this fourm to find out how to check oil pressure and how to check compression. never did these checks before on any of my cars. By the way,what bearings could be getting too loose. camshaft bearings? Are they easy to check for looseness. are they easy to replace. thanks for the help and input. JOET/CAMRY

[Brian R.]

If I were you, I'd just bring it to a mechanic for the oil pressure and compression check. They are not things you would do often and you need to buy gauges for that.

If it doesn't do it everytime you start, then you have a stranger problem than I thought.

I was referring to the main and rod bearings. Just as a worst-case problem. The engine is old enough that you should check the oil pressure and compression any way. It may clue you into a problem. If they are fine, then we can think about this some more. Intermittent problems are the worst to try to solve, even if I could drive it.

[1BadBowTie]

Buy An American Car, That'll Solve All Your Probs

[tiger_speed]

Originally Posted by 1BadBowTie

Buy An American Car, That'll Solve All Your Probs

Not true. Toyota's and Honda's are the most reliable engines on the market. But i digress, i own a 89' toyota camry le v6 and sure it's had it's problems but it is 16 years old. it is a great all-around car and i think that they are worth much more than you can get for them. so i would recommend keeping it and doing maintainance needed without any outrageous work. by the way i have over 185000 miles on mine and it runs great.

[JOET/CAMRY]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

If I were you, I'd just bring it to a mechanic for the oil pressure and compression check. They are not things you would do often and you need to buy gauges for that.

If it doesn't do it everytime you start, then you have a stranger problem than I thought.

I was referring to the main and rod bearings. Just as a worst-case problem. The engine is old enough that you should check the oil pressure and compression any way. It may clue you into a problem. If they are fine, then we can think about this some more. Intermittent problems are the worst to try to solve, even if I could drive it.

Hello,

on 7-11-2005 I placed the following post as follows:

Hello, I have a 1989 Camry with 171,000 miles on it. This morning I tried to start the car and it turned over fine but was sputtering and having a difficult time trying to start. while it was turning over the engine was clacking and making a light banging noise. after about three attempts to start the engine it finally stayed running but ran rough. the noises continued and slowly dissapeared after about 3 minutes of engine idling. I didn't want to hit the gas pedal with engine acting up; and cause further damage. I lifted the hood while car was running bad and the sound seamed to be coming from underneath the valve cover. I drove the car about five miles once engine running fine and seemed to be ok. I don't think it's going to fix itself permanently. The car has been running great up until this happened. By the way the oil level was fine. Does anyone know what could be the problem. any help/advice will be appreciated. Thank you.. JOET/CAMRY


Update...

It been almost 9 months / 13,000 miles since I put this post in and my car has been running great with no banging noise coming from the engine at all. The engine acted up just that one day. I was told it could be the main/rod bearings that are worn out and need to be replaced. that seemed like a good guess because I don't know what else could cause that awful noise. I wonder what the heck happened to my car to make it act up like that. anyone have any ideas? The car now has 184,000 miles on it.

oh well. I guess I should be grateful my cars running good now and hopefully will stay that way.


Regards,

JOET/CAMRY

[RIP]

JOET My 87 does the same thing especially after its been setting for a while. It's far from a regular occurrance. Not sure of the process but I'd say oil isn't getting to the rocker arms under the valve cover for whatever reason. Doesn't sound like it's deep in the engine. Keeping it at idle is a smart move.

Oh and thanks for the feedback on an old thread. Unfortunately, you don't see enough of this on this forum.

[rimfire,22]

Originally Posted by JOET/CAMRY

Hello,

on 7-11-2005 I placed the following post as follows:

Hello, I have a 1989 Camry with 171,000 miles on it. This morning I tried to start the car and it turned over fine but was sputtering and having a difficult time trying to start. while it was turning over the engine was clacking and making a light banging noise. after about three attempts to start the engine it finally stayed running but ran rough. the noises continued and slowly dissapeared after about 3 minutes of engine idling. I didn't want to hit the gas pedal with engine acting up; and cause further damage. I lifted the hood while car was running bad and the sound seamed to be coming from underneath the valve cover. I drove the car about five miles once engine running fine and seemed to be ok. I don't think it's going to fix itself permanently. The car has been running great up until this happened. By the way the oil level was fine. Does anyone know what could be the problem. any help/advice will be appreciated. Thank you.. JOET/CAMRY


Update...

It been almost 9 months / 13,000 miles since I put this post in and my car has been running great with no banging noise coming from the engine at all. The engine acted up just that one day. I was told it could be the main/rod bearings that are worn out and need to be replaced. that seemed like a good guess because I don't know what else could cause that awful noise. I wonder what the heck happened to my car to make it act up like that. anyone have any ideas? The car now has 184,000 miles on it.

oh well. I guess I should be grateful my cars running good now and hopefully will stay that way.


Regards,

JOET/CAMRY

JOET/CAMRY,

Sorry to hear you car had that mishap. My 89' Camry has over 210,000 miles on it and never had that problem yet. My wild guess is that it may have had a vacum leak and the clacking noise could have been from the oil pump trying to pump oil inside your engine upon start-up. Mine in the mornings makes that noise very lightly until the oil is circulated well through-out the engine.

Question, What weight oil you use? Perhaps the brand and weight's too heavy for your region. Personally I use Mobil 1 5-30W in mine out here in California. The lighter weight will be easier on your pump and save you some gas in the long run. Consider perhaps a gas conditioner that'll help your engines top end. I usually use Chevron's brand of gas conditioner. I think it's good for about 3000 miles.

If your problem comes around again my suggestion would be just to have Toyota look at it. It may hurt your pocket book BUT at least you get the problem solved.

rimfire,22

[JOET/CAMRY]

Originally Posted by rimfire,22

JOET/CAMRY,

Sorry to hear you car had that mishap. My 89' Camry has over 210,000 miles on it and never had that problem yet. My wild guess is that it may have had a vacum leak and the clacking noise could have been from the oil pump trying to pump oil inside your engine upon start-up. Mine in the mornings makes that noise very lightly until the oil is circulated well through-out the engine.

Question, What weight oil you use? Perhaps the brand and weight's too heavy for your region. Personally I use Mobil 1 5-30W in mine out here in California. The lighter weight will be easier on your pump and save you some gas in the long run. Consider perhaps a gas conditioner that'll help your engines top end. I usually use Chevron's brand of gas conditioner. I think it's good for about 3000 miles.

If your problem comes around again my suggestion would be just to have Toyota look at it. It may hurt your pocket book BUT at least you get the problem solved.

rimfire,22

Hello rimfire,22

Thanks for the input/advice. Looking back in retrospect when I first put the post in I should have wrote that the engine was making a clacking / banging sound instead of just a clacking sound. it sounded like someone was hitting the engine under the valve cover with a metal hammer.

The engine in my 1989 camry does make a slight clicking /tapping sound when I first start it in the morning or if the engine has not been running for awile. You said the engine in your 1989 camry has the same sound until oil is well circulated. seems like a fairly common problem.

I live in Massachusetts and use 10w-40 motor oil for my car (4 cylinder 3sfe engine). the car seems to run good with this weight of oil. I dont know if it would be a good idea to use thinner weight oil with the engine having the age and mileage it has. I don't want to get oil leaks. I guess oil thats too thick can hurt gas mileage and make the engine work harder.

A gas conditioner sounds like a good idea. It's been a long time since I used a gas additive. I think i'll try the chevron brand name gas conditioner.

Thank You for responding. Take care.


Regards,

JOET/CAMRY

[rimfire,22]

Originally Posted by JOET/CAMRY

Hello, I have a 1989 Camry with 171,000 miles on it. This morning I tried to start the car and it turned over fine but was sputtering and having a difficult time trying to start. while it was turning over the engine was clacking and making a light banging noise. after about three attempts to start the engine it finally stayed running but ran rough. the noises continued and slowly dissapeared after about 3 minutes of engine idling. I didn't want to hit the gas pedal with engine acting up; and cause further damage. I lifted the hood while car was running bad and the sound seamed to be coming from underneath the valve cover. I drove the car about five miles once engine running fine and seemed to be ok. I don't think it's going to fix itself permanently. The car has been running great up until this happened. By the way the oil level was fine. Does anyone know what could be the problem. any help/advice will be appreciated. Thank you.. JOET/CAMRY

JOET/CAMRY,

From what your describe it almost sounds like some sort of oil starvation. When I start mine in the morning it makes that kind of sound for a short time until the oils circulated well. When was the last time you check the oil?
Tomorrow in the morning check it before you start it as see what the dip stick says.

rimfire22

[rimfire,22]

Originally Posted by JOET/CAMRY

Hello rimfire,22

Thanks for the input/advice. Looking back in retrospect when I first put the post in I should have wrote that the engine was making a clacking / banging sound instead of just a clacking sound. it sounded like someone was hitting the engine under the valve cover with a metal hammer.

The engine in my 1989 camry does make a slight clicking /tapping sound when I first start it in the morning or if the engine has not been running for awile. You said the engine in your 1989 camry has the same sound until oil is well circulated. seems like a fairly common problem.

I live in Massachusetts and use 10w-40 motor oil for my car (4 cylinder 3sfe engine). the car seems to run good with this weight of oil. I dont know if it would be a good idea to use thinner weight oil with the engine having the age and mileage it has. I don't want to get oil leaks. I guess oil thats too thick can hurt gas mileage and make the engine work harder.

A gas conditioner sounds like a good idea. It's been a long time since I used a gas additive. I think i'll try the chevron brand name gas conditioner.

Thank You for responding. Take care.


Regards,

JOET/CAMRY

JOET/CAMRY,

My 89' Camry has about 210,000 miles on my 4 cylinder engine and I use Mobil 1 synthetic 5W-30. Currently it shows no signs of oil leakage at all. For your climate the oil your using might be just fine. Consider synthetic oil in the future. It's expensive to use but it'll help keep your internals cleaner and it appears to stay cleaner longer than conventional oil itself. Anything to save gas in the long run. So far all major parts are still original on mine and I a happy camper. Toyotas just keep running!

rimfire22