I just got back from the shop and they said it does have a lifter tap along with a beginning of a rod knock on the passenger side towards the firewall on the car. They said it don't sound like a timing chain problem, so they said it is more the likely a rod starting to knock. I don't hear it but if you open the hood and rev it up you can barely here it. So how ling can I drive it before I blow the motor. Can I get a few years out of it or due I need to look toward replacing my motor next year. Also the car just rolled over to 80k a few weeks ago. Any and all advice will be helpful. Thanks.

if you cant, i would have some who knows what you are doing give you a more specfic diagnosis. lifters, pushrods, rockers, springs can be replaced relatively easily compared to lower end stuff. alot of things can be repaired so you dont have to worry about what happens to other stuff when it goes.

how long has to do with to many things to say really.

not many miles on it, which engine do you have?

I have the 3.1 in it. Also they said it wasn't the timing chain because it doesn't have a timing chain dampener but after I looked up the timing chain set it does have a dampener. I am guessing by what the was talking about that if the dampener goes bad it makes a sound like a rod is knocking but I am not for sure on what that was exactly telling me. Also here is the link to auto zones website on the timing set. http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...522_3263_2629_

i put 300k on the 3.1 i had without going into the engine at all, i kind of doubt its has anything to do with the chain. thats why i say have someone give a better, more specific diagnosis. could be just something loose inside or outside the engine.

I agree with you on that but you can hear the lifter but when the engine hit operation temperature they quite down. So I think it may be a lifter problem or I just need to clean out my oil passages.