Still have lifter noise after dealer replaced lifters.

[alextremetj]

Hey everyone, I have an issue that has been driving me crazy. It started about a month ago, I started noticing a ticking noise at warm idle. When first started up, it's fine. As it gets warmer, the noise becomes more prevalent. You can really notice it on the drivers side, through the wheel well or peaking under the car. Passenger side, not so much. It's still under warranty, so I dropped it off to the dealer to see what they thought. They call me a few hours later saying it was the DOD lifters, which will be covered under warranty. I will just have to pay 2 hours of labor for the tech to R&I the headers. Even though it didn't take me that long to install them, I said sure. 2 days later I get a voice mail to come pick it up.

I called the service manager to ask him what they found and replaced. He said they replaced all 16 lifters and the cam looked okay. Great! I go pick it up, pay them the $195 in labor and head home. Upon pulling into my driveway, I get out and to my dismay...I hear the same ticking noise I heard before. Nothing has changed. I figured since the lifters were new, perhaps they just needed some time to quiet down. After a few miles on it this weekend, no difference.

Now I'm an ASE certified mechanic, and have worked at an independent shop for 7 years, so I'm no stranger to dealing with engine noises. Upon doing some reading online, I have heard of people having issues with the oil pickup "o" ring causing the oil to aerate, but as far as I know, nothing has been done to the pump. I bought the car in June 2011 with 27k on it and it now only has 37k on it. I have also only ran Mobil 1 5-30. Another thing I noticed, before and after the dealer visit, sometimes the hot warm idle oil pressure is around 17PSI. Does that sound right? Seems low to me.

Any ideas where to go from here? I'm going to call the dealership tomorrow and see what they think. I have also included a video of the sound. Thanks!

http://youtu.be/OL93gvlpEXg

[blue-mayhem]

They might have tightened your valve covers down to much and the rockers are hitting your covers. Try loosing them up a bit and see if it helps. You can get a 5/16 wrench in there without taking the coil packs off.

[alextremetj]

I had the valve cover off this morning and saw no contact marks or anything. I also checked the torque on the rocker arms, just double checking the dealers work. Thanks for the idea though!

[-Ray-]

Did you try using a stethoscope to isolate the lifter making the noise?

[alextremetj]

We have an electronic stethoscope at work, and from the best I can tell, it sounds like Cyl 7. Drivers side, closest to the firewall. I have even commanded DOD on and off with my Tech 2 and couldn't tell a change in the sound :uhm:

[Crazy Paul]

He said they replaced all 16 lifters and the cam looked okay. Great! I go pick it up, pay them the $195 in labor and head home. Upon pulling into my driveway, I get out and to my dismay...I hear the same ticking noise I heard before. Nothing has changed. I figured since the lifters were new,

Now I'm an ASE certified mechanic, and have worked at an independent shop for 7 years

Less trusting people than yourself would have arranged with the service manager to view the parts they replaced. That little pile should include 16 lifters, 2 head gaskets, and 30 stock head bolts.

[alextremetj]

I'm definitely kicking myself for not asking to see the parts. Unfortunately working at an honest shop, the thought of another shop being dishonest didn't cross my mind until too late. Looking under the hood, they definitely had the heads off, there was coolant residue in some places, and the head bolts I can see look new. That's the extent of what I can tell they touched.

[alextremetj]

Also in the video, you can hear a higher pitched chirp noise. I have eliminated the possibility of it being any of the belt driven accessories by removing both belts, and the noise is still there. It's so faint that is hard to hear exactly where its coming from.

[screaminChick-n]

We have an electronic stethoscope at work, and from the best I can tell, it sounds like Cyl 7. Drivers side, closest to the firewall. I have even commanded DOD on and off with my Tech 2 and couldn't tell a change in the sound :uhm:

Did you try using a stethoscope to isolate the lifter making the noise?

Can u explain how to do this correctly ? where do you place the tip etc ?

[WickedMom]

Gm requires dealers to hang on to warranty parts. It's unlikely they would call back the lifters since its a known issue. If concerned that they didn't do the job, go ask if the parts are still being held. If they say they were sent back, ask for documentation of that.

-sent from my Note 2 using tapatalk 2

[matts88yj]

Gm requires dealers to hang on to warranty parts. It's unlikely they would call back the lifters since its a known issue. If concerned that they didn't do the job, go ask if the parts are still being held. If they say they were sent back, ask for documentation of that.


Good info there Jessika! Hopefully they weren't dishonest with their work.

[alextremetj]

Can u explain how to do this correctly ? where do you place the tip etc ?

Are you asking how I used the Tech 2, or what I put the mic close to? The Tech 2 has an option under "Engine Output Controls" to activate the DOD function for all the 4 of the affected cylinders, or you can do each one individually. I tried both methods. For where I placed the microphone of the listening device, closest to the firewall on the drivers side, midway down the block is where the noise was the loudest.


Gm requires dealers to hang on to warranty parts. It's unlikely they would call back the lifters since its a known issue. If concerned that they didn't do the job, go ask if the parts are still being held. If they say they were sent back, ask for documentation of that.

-sent from my Note 2 using tapatalk 2

Thank you for that advice. I'm still new to the whole "dealer" thing. I have always done the work myself on all of my vehicles. I will call the dealer today and speak to the service manager about whats going on.
I should just bite the bullet and throw my own cam in there with the associated DOD delete parts and be done with it. My only fear is if something is really messed up with the motor, I want it documented with GM.