A couple ?'s about lifter replacement options

[SleepingEclipse]

Here's the deal. My car always had a slight lifter tick, nothing special. I figured it was the "dsm" trait. Yesterday it turned into lifter knock, so I've decided it's time to replace that noisey lifter. What are my options as far as replacing it? I have a 93 eclipse gs 2.0 5 speed and am not sure what I can do about replacing them. I called autozone and the only ones they could order were Hi-Tech lifters (16 pack) for $307.99. I found a site last night about 3g revised lifters, and they were like $8/piece. Could I use those in my car? Would I have to replace ALL of the lifters in order to use those? Or are those lifters just for 2g eclipses? Here is the link to the lifters that I am looking at(and will they work in my car?) LIFTERS Thanks guys and the quicker the reponce the better, I'd like to get these ordered and the car fixed asap! And if I can't use those lifters could someone please steer me in the correct direction for some? Thanks

 

[SleepingEclipse]

I found this thread http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139867&highlight=1g+eclipse+lifter and it seems like the 3rd gen revised lifters from the site I mentioned in the post above will work in my 1g. So I guess my next question is should I replace all of them or just the bad one?

 

[larsenracing]

yes they will work and I would replace all of them instead of just one or two. Whall its a part do them all.

 

[weith1111]

That thread you linked to is a MESS! Geez 3g this 2000 this. You have the right ones, and yes do them all like it was suggested. That's about the best price I've seen as well, so I'd say go for it.

You could also try the other various fixes if you don't want to spend $125: MCCC, engine restore, lucas oil stabilizer, just a good cleaning and soaking, etc.

 

[yokotabrat]

Partsdinosaur is where I ordered my recently replaced lifters. Check all of them before you install them, though. Follow the procedure to deflate them on VFAQ.com and make sure they move in and out freely. I had one that was sticky that I caught before installing them. The guy at partsdinosaur sent me a replacement free of charge without requiring me to send the bad one back. Hope this helps.

 

[SleepingEclipse]

Ok thanks guys for the help. I read and printed out the vfaq last night as soon as I realized my lifter took a crap on me. I'm going to order the lifters tonight and hopefully they will be shipped pretty quick here. That lifter tick is driving me insane having to hear it!

 

[SleepingEclipse]

Are you absolutely sure it is in fact the lifter making the noise? Only reason I ask is because I don't want you to fork out the cash (even though it's still a good idea to replace them) to find out the lifters aren't the cause of the noise.

To find out for sure, take a broom handle (has to be wooden and without the broom) and set one end against your valve cover (while the engine is running) and the other end to your ear and listen. I know it sounds like a strange thing to do, but you will definitely hear it if it is your lifters. The handle acts like a stethoscope and transfers the noise through the wood of the handle.

I have done this and it does work.

Can I just use a stethoscope instead since I have one? My dad is going to help me out with the lifters since he said he's replaced them on some of his cars. I'm hoping the lifters will come in Thursday or Friday.

 

[sadsm]

Cant you just use a screwdriver if you dont have a stethoscope, or if you dont want to go and get the broom, or dont have a wooden one.

 

[SleepingEclipse]

Alright will do. My parts were shipped last night...and I am going to get a vid/sound clip before I tear the engine apart and I'll post that(or actually if I get some time tonight I'll do that) Then you can hear how bad it is. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[chicagoavenger]

Try ebay there 101 shipped. 3rd gen revised. A few people have used them and they said they work great. I haven't found them for less $ than that unless used.

 

[SleepingEclipse]

Here's the video clip - http://media.putfile.com/Eclipse-Lifter-Tick . I have to go to work but I'll be back for lunch(and hopefully the mailman will have my lifters for me then. : ) I'll get a soundclip after I'm done and hopefully it'll be tick-free.

 

[tbgallant]

Just viewed your movie.. I'm pretty sure I have lifter tick as well.

Mine seems to go away as the revs rise past ~2500 rpm (caused by the rise in oil pressure?) Is this a lifter tick symptom?

Let me know if the new lifters solve all your ticking.. maybe take an "after" movie?

Thanks

 

[SleepingEclipse]

Ok just out of curiosity, how can I tell which lifter(s) are bad? I'm tearing apart the valve cover now...

 

[SleepingEclipse]

Bump

 

[SleepingEclipse]

Well now I feel like a freaking idiot. I can't figure out which lifter is bad. I tried running the car for a bit then taking the valve cover off and trying to see which one would be "soft" compared to the others...and I can't figure it out. I guess I'm just going to do an oil change tomorrow and try some of that "engine restore" stuff. I feel like an idiot for jumping to the conclusion that my lifters needed to be replaced and buying those...oh well I guess if they ever do go crappy on me then I'll have them. I don't get it though, the engine doesn't make that noise at idle...only when the rpms's get above 2k. But it goes away under heavy acceleration and when I let off...it's only when the engine rpm levels off. There's no power loss or anything like that associated with all of this. Any other ideas? My buddy keeps thinking it's the water pump...and I'm afraid to think it's something in the bottom end of the engine? Well it's after 1 am so I'm going to call it a night.

 

[weith1111]

Might as well just replace them since you got them. Their performance will be improved over the old ones. Just cause they weren't tapping doesn't mean they were travelling the full distance/moving the valves the whole distance they can.

 

[andymoraitis]

Chances are if the noise has now turned into a knock more than a tick, it's not the lifters, especially if you can't find one that's collapsed and can be pressed down with your finger. I would advise that you pull the front cover from the timing belt area and inspect for a failing tensioner that would make the belt slap. Also take a look at the crank pully and ensure that is isn't cracked or separating.

Your last step is to pull the oil pan and look for metal shavings. If you find glitter in the oil or brass in the pan, the rod bearings are shot and the motor will need to be rebuilt on the bottom end. If you can possibly isolate which cylinder is causing the noise, pull the plug for that cylinder and if the noise stops with the load off of that piston, it's likely in the bottom end.

Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. I just went through this myself and learned the hard way.

Good luck!

Andy

 

[SleepingEclipse]

Andymoraitis - I'm afraid you might be correct. The noise is getting a bit louder...and tonight it died twice when I threw the car in Neutral. The headlights dim as well along with the interior lights when I throw the car in neutral. That part I don't get, I replaced the alternator and starter less than 1500 miles ago. I checked all the hoses and everything after I popped the valve cover off, and they're all fine. I'm really hoping it's not the bottom end, because that will really SUCK.

 

[SleepingEclipse]

For an update, when the car gets "warmed up", it dies when I put it in neutral. Not every time, but the rpms drop as if to go to idle and then it just keeps going to 0. I was reading another way to check for rod knock was to pull each of the spark plug wires off when the car is running(one at a time) and if the noise goes away then it's that cylinder? Does that seem right? I'm thinking I'm going to ask my neighbor for some help, since he has a lift in his garage and used to teach auto mech at a college...probably should have gone to him first. If the bottom end was going, wouldn't I be experiencing some sort of power loss or rough running? I mean the car still gets up and goes(from the babying I'm doing to it, no shifts past 2800rpm) It doesn't have any bogging or like "spiking" idle or anything. It still runs fine...minus the hella loud noise it makes when I get to a constant speed. What other syptoms are there for rod knock?

 

[RedRain]

The video you have sounds like what my car is doing. I replaced the lifters with some revised lifters and I guess it wasnt the problem, but I still wanted to replace them since it ticked when the car was first started. I have no more lifter tick, but still have that knock. I replaced my timing belt about 1 year ago and I know the tensioner was bad and it was making more of a rattling noise. Like a Prrrrrrr right after you would let go of the gas from 3000 rpm. I am going to check out my crank pulley and make sure nothing is wrong with it. I havent noticed any metal shavings in my oil since every oil change ive done. Let me know if you find something out though. Good luck.

 

[SleepingEclipse]

I took it to a mechanic today. He listened to it and said "there's nothing I can do about it, it's definetly worse than lifters" ROD KNOCK! This sucks...I dunno what my next step will be, but I think it includes me leaving the DSM family.

 

[RedRain]

Sorry to hear about this. I saw your Eclipse in a meet two years ago in November. It is a real nice eclipse ill tell you that . Good luck to whatever you decide to do. I know I have to rebuild a motor soon since I sense Rod Knock. I took out the number 1 plug while running and the noise was gone (Not Good). I guess its time to search for some good deals on Eagle Rods and Wiseco Pistons. I have a spare 6bolt block and hope on rebuilding that this summer. Once again, Good Luck!

 

[SleepingEclipse]

Sorry to hear about this. I saw your Eclipse in a meet two years ago in November. It is a real nice eclipse ill tell you that . Good luck to whatever you decide to do. I know I have to rebuild a motor soon since I sense Rod Knock. I took out the number 1 plug while running and the noise was gone (Not Good). I guess its time to search for some good deals on Eagle Rods and Wiseco Pistons. I have a spare 6bolt block and hope on rebuilding that this summer. Once again, Good Luck!

Are you sure that was my Eclipse? ### 2 years ago in September was the last time I "attempted" to go to a meet, and ended up getting pulled over about a mile from the meet, and my buddy and I had no idea where we were going(even though he said he did). I don't think I ever made it to a meet....wait unless you're talking about Fox Valley at Hooters? Thanks for the comment, I do love the way my car looks...it's going to be hard to part with!

 

[RedRain]

Yea I did see you at Hooters by Fox Valley Mall. What are you going to end up doing? Im hoping on starting to rebuild my other spare 6 bolt motor in 1-2 months. Good luck to whatever you decide to do.

 

[SleepingEclipse]

You wanna buy my car? Haha...I'm going to throw it up on ebay and some classifieds around here. I just want to get rid of it basically...it would be the PERFECT car for an engine swap. Everything else was just soooo great about the car. I pulled it outta the garage tonight(first time I've started/moved it since last Thursday) and I already miss driving it. The clutch, just the smoothness of it...right now I'm stuck driving an 87 f-150...which is better than nothing! But the clutch is soooo dang "heavy"!