sticky lifter?

mikeXmayhem · 06-10-2009, 04:50 PM

I just got my first MR2 about 9 days ago (after wanting one for 8 years). I got it through a trade from a 4 door automatic Corolla, so I was more anxious to own the car than to make sure I got a fair trade.

Anyway, I believe it may have a sticky lifter, due to the quiet ticking I hear when I accelerate. It doesn't sound bad, but I haven't touched a motor in over 3 years, so I don't know this from that anymore.

Is there an easy fix? If so, what could I do to cure this ailment.

Its a completely stock 5spd '93 NA with the 5s-fe.

Your input is appreciated, but don't flame just 'cause I'm new.

deucegirl03 · 06-10-2009, 06:37 PM

wat up Mike, congrats and welcome

one thing to note is that the 5S utilizes a solid lifter ("shim over bucket") style valve train, they are not hydraulic. so you won't really get a "sticky lifter" situation with these motors. because the motor is right behind you, the injectors can sound pretty loud. if the motor has high mileage, it could be old injectors that you're hearing. you could try throwing some gum out or something like that into your tank the next time you're on empty and getting ready to fill up. that stuff works wonders.
this is just my two cents, the noise you hear could be something else, but when i first had my mr2 i thought i heard valves but after having some of my go to guys listen to it they deduced that it was just the injectors....
PS this forum is really friendly most people don't "flame" other people on here so don't be afraid to ask questions unless you failed to use the search box first to see if the topic has previously been discussed

mikeXmayhem · 06-10-2009, 06:58 PM

Thanks for the input. Yea it's safe to say I'm not familiar with the 5s yet. I spent years knowing the sr20 in and out. I did forget to add that it has 127,xxx original miles, but I won't rule the injectors out. I'll try your method since you have experience with the issue. Thanks!

Oh and I'm glad to hear people will actually be helpful, I mean everyone can't be an expert a week after of owning the car.

deucegirl03 · 06-10-2009, 07:02 PM

yeah i don't know much about nissan. i know the sr20 is a nice motor tho...
glad i could help, 127k orig miles is pretty low considering its a 15 year old motor.
the 5s is simplistic enough, but the shim over bucket style valve train makes adjusting valves a challenge unless you have the right special service tool. i believe that the manual is posted on this forum somewhere, and it gives great detail on the matter if you have some time to read about it.
hope the fuel injector cleaner helps!

mikeXmayhem · 06-10-2009, 07:14 PM

Thanks again, it's not a huge problem or anything, but even little problems need to be fixed. I hope the GumOut works too, college doesn't pay enough to get new injectors.

TomsMR2 · 06-10-2009, 07:27 PM

the tick is more than likely an exhaust leak.

fuel injector cleaner wont help, even marginally.

mikeXmayhem · 06-10-2009, 07:58 PM

an exhaust leak was my very first thought..would that make it 'tick' though? Usually a leak would make it sputter up and down the rpm's. When Im revving it up to hear the noise though the exhaust itself sounds smooth.

You guys are the experienced ones, not me, so your help is appreciated.

TomsMR2 · 06-10-2009, 08:10 PM

exhaust leaks dont cause sputters on cars like this.

mr2s typically crack the b-pipe right where it bolts onto the manifold, and the exhaust studs back out and strip the metal out of the head. veeeeery common.. kinda to the point where you can basically be expecting your studs to be messed up and bpipe to crack sooner or later.

small exhaust leaks sound just like valve train noise.. a tick that corresponds to rpm.

deucegirl03 · 06-10-2009, 08:10 PM

ah yes i did not think about that..and no of course inj cleaner wouldn't help with that!
his description doesn't really sound like an exhaust leak tho...but its worth looking into...

mikeXmayhem · 06-10-2009, 10:16 PM

So what am I lookin at here, get a new b-pipe, or can I weld fix? or will it last long enough to get a new exhaust and header setup.

deucegirl03 · 06-11-2009, 12:11 AM

well it depends on where your leak is if its an exhaust leak.
common areas are the manifold or where the header connects to the b-pipe.

mikeXmayhem · 06-21-2009, 04:17 PM

I dont know if anyone still reads this thread, but if so...I just noticed that it only "ticks" with normal throttle pressure, and doesnt sound like theres any noise at all if you rev it up really slowly. Im gonna add some complete fuel system cleaner with my next fill up, and if nothing improves then at least I have a clean fuel system and can deduce the problem to a most likely exhaust leak.

I wanna get new headers anyway when I have the money.

Oh, and I would've liked the berk tech exhaust, but any advice on an NA exhaust?

06-10-2009, 04:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
mikeXmayhem No Skills Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	sticky lifter? I just got my first MR2 about 9 days ago (after wanting one for 8 years). I got it through a trade from a 4 door automatic Corolla, so I was more anxious to own the car than to make sure I got a fair trade. Anyway, I believe it may have a sticky lifter, due to the quiet ticking I hear when I accelerate. It doesn't sound bad, but I haven't touched a motor in over 3 years, so I don't know this from that anymore. Is there an easy fix? If so, what could I do to cure this ailment. Its a completely stock 5spd '93 NA with the 5s-fe. Your input is appreciated, but don't flame just 'cause I'm new.

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06-10-2009, 06:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
deucegirl03 Gearhead son! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canyon Country, CA Posts: 676 Thanks: 32 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	wat up Mike, congrats and welcome one thing to note is that the 5S utilizes a solid lifter ("shim over bucket") style valve train, they are not hydraulic. so you won't really get a "sticky lifter" situation with these motors. because the motor is right behind you, the injectors can sound pretty loud. if the motor has high mileage, it could be old injectors that you're hearing. you could try throwing some gum out or something like that into your tank the next time you're on empty and getting ready to fill up. that stuff works wonders. this is just my two cents, the noise you hear could be something else, but when i first had my mr2 i thought i heard valves but after having some of my go to guys listen to it they deduced that it was just the injectors.... PS this forum is really friendly most people don't "flame" other people on here so don't be afraid to ask questions unless you failed to use the search box first to see if the topic has previously been discussed

06-10-2009, 06:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
mikeXmayhem No Skills Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Thanks for the input. Yea it's safe to say I'm not familiar with the 5s yet. I spent years knowing the sr20 in and out. I did forget to add that it has 127,xxx original miles, but I won't rule the injectors out. I'll try your method since you have experience with the issue. Thanks! Oh and I'm glad to hear people will actually be helpful, I mean everyone can't be an expert a week after of owning the car.

06-10-2009, 07:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
deucegirl03 Gearhead son! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canyon Country, CA Posts: 676 Thanks: 32 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	yeah i don't know much about nissan. i know the sr20 is a nice motor tho... glad i could help, 127k orig miles is pretty low considering its a 15 year old motor. the 5s is simplistic enough, but the shim over bucket style valve train makes adjusting valves a challenge unless you have the right special service tool. i believe that the manual is posted on this forum somewhere, and it gives great detail on the matter if you have some time to read about it. hope the fuel injector cleaner helps!

06-10-2009, 07:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
mikeXmayhem No Skills Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Thanks again, it's not a huge problem or anything, but even little problems need to be fixed. I hope the GumOut works too, college doesn't pay enough to get new injectors.

06-10-2009, 07:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
TomsMR2 Formerly Tom Brokaw Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bay Area Posts: 2,497 Thanks: 8 Thanked 233 Times in 168 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	the tick is more than likely an exhaust leak. fuel injector cleaner wont help, even marginally.

06-10-2009, 07:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
mikeXmayhem No Skills Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	an exhaust leak was my very first thought..would that make it 'tick' though? Usually a leak would make it sputter up and down the rpm's. When Im revving it up to hear the noise though the exhaust itself sounds smooth. You guys are the experienced ones, not me, so your help is appreciated.

06-10-2009, 08:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
TomsMR2 Formerly Tom Brokaw Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bay Area Posts: 2,497 Thanks: 8 Thanked 233 Times in 168 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	exhaust leaks dont cause sputters on cars like this. mr2s typically crack the b-pipe right where it bolts onto the manifold, and the exhaust studs back out and strip the metal out of the head. veeeeery common.. kinda to the point where you can basically be expecting your studs to be messed up and bpipe to crack sooner or later. small exhaust leaks sound just like valve train noise.. a tick that corresponds to rpm.

06-10-2009, 08:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
deucegirl03 Gearhead son! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canyon Country, CA Posts: 676 Thanks: 32 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	ah yes i did not think about that..and no of course inj cleaner wouldn't help with that! his description doesn't really sound like an exhaust leak tho...but its worth looking into...

06-10-2009, 10:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
mikeXmayhem No Skills Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	So what am I lookin at here, get a new b-pipe, or can I weld fix? or will it last long enough to get a new exhaust and header setup.

06-11-2009, 12:11 AM	#11 (permalink)
deucegirl03 Gearhead son! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canyon Country, CA Posts: 676 Thanks: 32 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	well it depends on where your leak is if its an exhaust leak. common areas are the manifold or where the header connects to the b-pipe.

06-21-2009, 04:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
mikeXmayhem No Skills Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I dont know if anyone still reads this thread, but if so...I just noticed that it only "ticks" with normal throttle pressure, and doesnt sound like theres any noise at all if you rev it up really slowly. Im gonna add some complete fuel system cleaner with my next fill up, and if nothing improves then at least I have a clean fuel system and can deduce the problem to a most likely exhaust leak. I wanna get new headers anyway when I have the money. Oh, and I would've liked the berk tech exhaust, but any advice on an NA exhaust?