Valve Adjustment

[peckerhead]

I've got a 2007 with about 120k on it. I bought it a year ago with 93k on it, and it's was a former corporate car from around the Chicago area. I do probably 99% highway driving. I can tell my valve adjustment needs to be set, because I can hear kind of a funky idle after I get it hot. It's not cause for alarm yet, but I need to address it soon.

I'm an auto tech, and I've looked into this a little bit. Looks like there are something like 50 different length lifters available from Toyota, and the only way to figure out what you need it to measure your clearances, determine the change to be made, pull the cams, and measuring your existing lifters. The lifters are $25 each from the dealer, and they get $500 to do the job if they need to replace one only.

It doesn't look like too much trouble, but I need to figure out how I can live without my car for a week while I wait for the lifters to be shipped. It's annoying. Whoever came up with this abomination needs to be slapped. Hard.

There's a local guy selling a used 1.5 with the lower oil pan wiped out. I'm considering picking it up for the lifters. Maybe I can use one or several of them.

[DMZ]

Originally Posted by peckerhead

The lifters are $25 each from the dealer, and they get $500 to do the job if they need to replace one only.

.

Goodness, when I replaced the shims on my Kawasaki they were less than $2.00 each from the dealer. The whole procedure was fairly straight forward and took about 1 1/2 hour because I took my time. I did once after break in and again at 20k. Motorcycle engines operate at much higher RPM's and higher temps than automobile engines so checking clearance and replacing shims, if needed, was a routine maintenance job.

It seems like it would be much easier on the Yaris because there is much more room and you are looking straight down on it. If you have a good torque wrench and feeler gauges, it should be a snap.

[UberSilver]

Not sure about Toyotas, but on most motorcycles the intake shims are the same thickness, and the exhaust are also matching. If the 1NZ-FE is the same way, buying a trashed engine will not help.

Originally Posted by peckerhead

I've got a 2007 with about 120k on it. I bought it a year ago with 93k on it, and it's was a former corporate car from around the Chicago area. I do probably 99% highway driving. I can tell my valve adjustment needs to be set, because I can hear kind of a funky idle after I get it hot. It's not cause for alarm yet, but I need to address it soon.

I'm an auto tech, and I've looked into this a little bit. Looks like there are something like 50 different length lifters available from Toyota, and the only way to figure out what you need it to measure your clearances, determine the change to be made, pull the cams, and measuring your existing lifters. The lifters are $25 each from the dealer, and they get $500 to do the job if they need to replace one only.

It doesn't look like too much trouble, but I need to figure out how I can live without my car for a week while I wait for the lifters to be shipped. It's annoying. Whoever came up with this abomination needs to be slapped. Hard.

There's a local guy selling a used 1.5 with the lower oil pan wiped out. I'm considering picking it up for the lifters. Maybe I can use one or several of them.

[peckerhead]

Originally Posted by UberSilver

Not sure about Toyotas, but on most motorcycles the intake shims are the same thickness, and the exhaust are also matching. If the 1NZ-FE is the same way, buying a trashed engine will not help.

Hopefully this isn't the case. I'll know right away, as the lifters are marked with a number corresponding to their length. If I'm lucky, there will be at least one or two in there that will get me where I need to be with my adjustment.

[Absolutely Red 12]

Originally Posted by peckerhead

Hopefully this isn't the case. I'll know right away, as the lifters are marked with a number corresponding to their length. If I'm lucky, there will be at least one or two in there that will get me where I need to be with my adjustment.

They are not marked, they need to be measured.
Even IF they were marked, the numbers would be irrelevant due to wear, as you need to measure the gap, then the actual thickness of the lifter bucket, do the math for optimal gap, read the chart to see which replacement you will need.

[peckerhead]

Originally Posted by Absolutely Red 12

They are not marked, they need to be measured.
Even IF they were marked, the numbers would be irrelevant due to wear, as you need to measure the gap, then the actual thickness of the lifter bucket, do the math for optimal gap, read the chart to see which replacement you will need.

It doesn't really matter to me either way. It'd be easy to mic all 16 and see what I have to work with. I can get them cheap, and my car won't have to sit for a week while I wait for the dealership to get parts. If I have one tight valve, there's a 1 in 16 chance that one of my used lifters will do the job. It's not rocket science.

[Absolutely Red 12]

Originally Posted by peckerhead

It doesn't really matter to me either way. It'd be easy to mic all 16 and see what I have to work with. I can get them cheap, and my car won't have to sit for a week while I wait for the dealership to get parts. If I have one tight valve, there's a 1 in 16 chance that one of my used lifters will do the job. It's not rocket science.

1 in 560 (16 X 35)

[peckerhead]

Originally Posted by Absolutely Red 12

1 in 560 (16 X 35)

1 in 16.

One tight valve. 16 used lifters on hand.

[Absolutely Red 12]

Originally Posted by peckerhead

I can tell my valve adjustment needs to be set, because I can hear kind of a funky idle after I get it hot.

I'm an auto tech, and I've looked into this a little bit. Looks like there are something like 50 different length lifters available from Toyota, and the only way to figure out what you need it to measure your clearances, determine the change to be made, pull the cams, and measuring your existing lifters. The lifters are $25 each from the dealer, and they get $500 to do the job if they need to replace one only.

Have you considered a bad VVT solenoid?

Check your clearances first, at the cost of a valve cover gasket,
You might be surprised.

There are 35 not 50, and they run $12 a piece not $25.

[peckerhead]

Originally Posted by Absolutely Red 12

Have you considered a bad VVT solenoid?

Check your clearances first, at the cost of a valve cover gasket,
You might be surprised.

There are 35 not 50, and they run $12 a piece not $25.

I haven't considered that solenoid. I assumed I'd see a code. Also, the symptoms are rough idle and/or stalling. I'm not noticing anything near that bad. It's just barely noticeable, and only when the engine is hot.

I do plan to check the valve clearances...just having trouble making time for it at the moment. I'm trying to plan for the worst based on the way the car is behaving.

I was quoted $25 by the dealership where I purchased the car.