Well, today was not a very good day for my car.

While I was driving today, I needed some quick accelaration so at some point I revved the engine to about 4500 RPM. From that point on - the engine just goes click-click-click all the time, in accordance with the RPM level.

It'* clearly an internal engine noise. I looked for its source, and it seems to be coming from the heads. It'* pretty loud, can be even heard while cruising at 40-50 MPH. The funny part is that other than that, the engine runs just perfect.

From what I've read in different forums before, this kind of noise seems to be related to lifters/rocker arms, but I'm not sure what this means in terms of the repair job required. Does it involve removing just the valve covers? what parts need to be replaced?

Any info would be greatly appreciated. I was going to replace the 4 shocks and other stuff on this car, but now I'm not so sure I really want to keep it for so much longer...

Thanks in advance,

- Uri

Sounds like rockers/lifters to me also...You should be able to pull off covers and inspect assemblies...You can even start the engine to visually inspect...carefully..and not for extended period of time..Be CAREFUL not to touch!!

Thanks for the quick reply!

What should I look for after I remove the valve covers? (I have the Chilton'* manual, but it doesn't go into too much detail).

Do you think driving the car for another 50 miles or so in this (while keeping the RPM as low as possible) could mean further engine damage?

Thanks,

you have a '92, you probably don't have an EGR and this spells trouble for valves, which it sounds like you're having a problem with.

Well, after removing covers...have someone start engine...check for loose/broken parts...shouldn't take very long...if no suspect parts...then your problem is deeper...most likely

My problem probably is deeper. I went to my mechanic this morning, and he flushed the oil using some additive that should clean all the internal parts. Then new oil and filter.

After this, oil pressure went up a little (to normal levels), and the noise level improved for a couple of minutes and then came back. He suspects it'* the lifters that are bad, not the rocker arms or anything like that, so this means some serious engine work.

Right now the car is drivable and with perfect oil pressure, so I've decided to start looking for a newer car (probably a 1998-1999 Opel Omega - better known as Cadillac Catera in the US), while still driving the old Pontiac for a while.

Then when summer comes and I have some time on my hands, I'll get the Pontiac fixed so I can sell it...... I'd hate to depart with it, but right now I need something newer and more reliable.

Anyway, thanks for all the advice!

LIFTERS ARE NOT THAT COMPICATED TO REPLACE...

Cadillac Catera!

Remember that those engines can run about 40-60,000 miles before the timing belt snaps and destroys the engine. There is some sort of a defect where radiator fluid leaks onto the belt and destroys it. Not to mention the problems with the tires and the front end alignments.

Recently I think that Cadillac has decided to repair the engine (I believe a $6,000 job) when it happens.

Be careful, or you may have more than lifters.

I know about the timing belt problem. It also holds true for the 2.5L V6 190HP engine in the car I'm thinking about buying. Currently Opel recommends replacing the timing belt every 40,000 miles. As for the front end trouble, I haven't heard about these problems in the Opel - perhaps it'* a Cadillac-only thing.

I'll only buy this car if I can find a good one with very low miles. With some preventive maintainence, I don't think there'* anything to worry about. I know these cars have their reliability issues, but they're such a bargain second-hand that I'm willing to risk it. Also, they've changed some internal parts in those engines over the years and 1999 is a better year than most.

Believe me that if I could, I would buy a newer Bonneville. But those are hard to come by here - they were only regularly imported between 1988 and 1993, and my estimate is that around 200-300 hundred in total were sold. After that, for each model year, very few cars (probably less than 5 each year) were privately imported by people who could afford it. 1992'* are the most common here, most of them being SE'* and some SSE'*. There are probably only around 10 SSEI'* in the entire country, of all model years. The LeSabre on the other hand is much more common here, as it was always regularly imported and still is, so this means finding replacement mechnical parts is never a problem.

I really wish I had the time to fix the Bonneville myself.. I believe I can handle this job myself if I could just find enough free time to do it but the bottom line is that I really need a newer car, and unfortunately it probably won't be a Bonneville, for the simple reason that I could never find one for sale...

- Uri

Hello again everyone!

Thanks jr'* for your generous offer - though I don't think I'll take you up on it

Anyway, some news about my problem. Today I finally got around to replacing the lifters on my car, all 12 of them (did the work myself). I also replaced the intake manifold gaskets and seals, but not the valve cover gaskets as they were already new.

I also found a coolant leak, and replaced the bands on some of the hoses.

The work took me about 6-7 hours, and I'm proud to say that the engine started right up after everything was put back together.

But..... the ticking noise is still there! I checked with a statoscope-like device, and it'* very probably a valve-system thing, and definitely coming from the front bank, at the area of the front valve cover.

I'm thinking that next thing to do is replace the front bank rocker arm (+bolts), and perhaps the pushrods? do any of these parts usually go bad? they're not that expensive, and it'* an easy job so I think it'll be worth it anyway.

Also, someone backed up into the driver'* door of the car while it was parked, and my horn has stopped working (relay?) but that'* a whole different story.

Anyway I'd love to hear some more advice on this.

Thanks in advance,