QuestionI love this car and plan to keep it. It has 124K miles. What is the repair for clicking valves? Any idea of approx. cost? Thanks
AnswerIf the oil is low, the answer may be as simple as adding oil. If it hasn't been driven in awhile, you may just need to drive it several miles.
This vehicle has hydraulic lifters that operate off oil pressure. There are many other possibilities. If the oil hasn't been changed frequently enough, you may have sludge partially blocking the passages used by the oil to get to the lifters, or you may have dirt in the lifters themselves.
If you have the V6, you may also have worn/noisy timing chains. Although this engine has a timing belt, there is a chain on each cylinder head which links the exhaust and intake camshafts. If the chain is worn, it begins hitting up against the guide, making a noise similar to a valve tap.
None of the actual repairs I've mentioned are inexpensive. If you want to have a good idea of how much it will cost you to repair, you'll need to take it in to a shop and have it diagnosed. Otherwise, we won't know the root cause of the noise, and hence won't know what's necessary to fix it.
