Friday, January 01, 2010 - 08:51 pm, by: Guy Robinson(Guy)
Hi everyone- I am new to this site and looking to purchase a 1993 Limited and have it for the weekend. The car has only done 88,000km (confirmed as genuine) but is rattlely which sounds like lifters. By reading this site, it appears that this is a common problem but could anyone give me a rough idea of how much to fix approx. Appreciate any help
David Vaughan Goo Roo Relaxed, but no provincial. IS300
Friday, January 01, 2010 - 09:16 pm, by: David Vaughan(Davidv)
It costs nothing to fix if you don't fix it. As you observed from your reading, noisy lifters are pretty common Have it checked by a Soarer mechanic if you can, in case of serious problems, but I will not be surprised if he says "no problem". Make the checks but don't panic yet.
Friday, January 01, 2010 - 09:21 pm, by: Mike Bradberry(Halflife)
Guy, the lifters have been ever so slightly noisy in my car for the last 5 years. It hasn't changed in the slightest. Don't worry about it. But you need to be sure that's exactly what is ticking (rattling).
Friday, January 01, 2010 - 09:27 pm, by: Mario Lentini(Lexus1994)
If it has a noisy lifter at 88,000k's I would be a bit worried that it has done more then it is showing on the clock . You need to re-shim the cam buckets and the shims are about $14 each . Its a bit of a job if you are going to get someone to do it for you ,i think there was someone else in here with the same problem and he was told it would cost about $800 to do it . I had a 91 UZZ32 and a UZZ31 both with about 180,000K's and they still were not making any noise .Then there is the fact if the car has been looked after with reg oil changes on the engine . How good it the trim inside the car , that a quick way i knowing it the K's a close or not , look at the steering wheel and seats and look to see how much wear they have .Also look to see if there is a sticker on the cam covers , if there is thats from someone who has put a new cam belt in at 100,000K's . Just be careful .I maybe wrong but find someone who is in the know with Soarers and ask them to look at it for you .
Friday, January 01, 2010 - 10:33 pm, by: Michael Toet(Myke31)
Well, I can say with my car, it had 107,000km on it when I bought it. I think there was some additive in the oil, because by the time I drove it some distance home it was ticking bad, much worse than when I was looking at it. I suspect the engine has done many more kms than the dash shows (swapped dash most likely). Naturally I have no books from any of the many previous owners confirming any service history.
Anyhow, I was told by a Soarer mechanic that on average he replaces around 15 shims, at about $20 each (might have been less as Mario says) and it is about 5 hours or so work at $100/hr. All up, I was told to expect to pay around $800, depending on how many shims were needing to be replaced. The only thing I am sure on is the final number of $800 +/- extra shim costs.
Friday, January 01, 2010 - 11:10 pm, by: Guy Robinson(Guy)
Hey Everyone- thanks for your advice. I will print your comments off and give to my mechanic. Unfortunately he is on holidays until the 11th otherwise I would have had him look at the car already.
The lifters are noisy and I would look to get them fixed but wanted to get an idea so I can negotiate a little on price. I am confident about the mileage as I am looking to buy from a friend/bloke I work with (drives like a grandma!and doesn't know alot about cars) who has had the car for over 3 years and has given me the history of the car prior to that.
The interior is in good condition with some wear marks just showing on the steering wheel. Leather seats/carpets are all pretty good. Centre touch screen not working but I have read all about that on the forum and can live with that.
I will also take Mario's advice as well and look for the stickers on the cam covers.
Saturday, January 02, 2010 - 11:25 pm, by: Vinny Ozorio(Fruitloop)
Arrr...bad memories..!!! Did mine at 100,000 and then again at 200,000 both times only needed to replace 1 shim.some I was able to swap from tight ones. number 3 cylinder rear exhaust seems to be the one that always is the rattly one. I gotta admit it took me longer then 5 hours the first time..Have fun..
Saturday, January 02, 2010 - 11:46 pm, by: Robert Day(Lexsmaz)
I would be sus on the mileage, as its pretty low for a 93 model car .. The talk is they get wound back in Japan before leaving to come to Australia ..
How much wear is there on the steering wheel, mine is showing 140,000 now & no real signs of wear on the steering wheel ..
Also how nois'y is the motor ?? If the k's are genuine which i doubt it, the shims would not have even been done / checked yet as i'm sure the first check is at 100,000 km's & i have never heard a Toyota motor nois'y due to excessive valve clearance before the 100,000 plus km (Genuine Km's) mark ..
I would be getting it checked out first ... Also i would be looking to see how clean the engine oil is, undo the oil cap & look inside the Cam cover with a torch, you should see clean shinny metal & not parts covered in sludge etc .. If it is covered in sludge its a sign it has missed plenty of oil changes, which is obviously Not good ......
How smooth does the motor run ? if its pretty rough, i would be suspecting a sticky valve or even a bent valve as that will give you excessive clearances, which will give a excessive nois'y ticking sound .. And nice and expensive ...
Rob ..
David Vaughan Goo Roo Relaxed, but no provincial. IS300
Sunday, January 03, 2010 - 08:46 am, by: David Vaughan(Davidv)
I am with those who are suspicious of the mileage. My car had nigh on 140,000 Km when I sold it after more than 75,000 in my hands but the wheel was not worn and I could just discern the beginning of wear on the driver's seat. To have those symptoms 50,000 Km earlier is odd.
Sunday, January 03, 2010 - 11:09 am, by: Michael Toet(Myke31)
Cihan Aday wrote on Saturday, January 02, 2010 - 10:04 pm:
Re shimming to tight factory clearances nets power and economy gains across the board.
It actually makes a significant difference if they're way off.
Mmm, nice to know. Mine is terrible. I have asked other soarer owners to drive mine and I have been told it feels down on power (bottom end) compared to other soarers they own and have driven.
Think I will accelerate this up the todo list of fixes that I am working through. Fingers crossed I have no bent valve stems.
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