Tappet / Lifter Sound?

I noticed on my way over to Tom Simmons's house yesterday for a brake fluid change that I was getting a clicking sound coming from the back of the car, more so at lower rpms than higher (probably drowned out by other sounds then). Tom listened to it and said it sounded like a tappet or lifter coming from the engine. Is this anything to be concerned about or do these things come and go? BTW, I took photos of the brake fluid change operation and will post an article soon on the subject.

Ken, In my experience with the new generation engines, these come and go - sometimes when the car has been sitting awhile, one of the lifters won't fill-up completely with oil right away and will tell you about it. It usually goes away with in a few minutes. My 1999 996 3.4L did this every once in a while. From what I can tell it's nothing to worry about unless it keeps up. If it does, I'd have it looked at - brad

K-Man, I agree with Brad. It didn't sound that bad to me, and it didn't get worse (went away?) with higher revs while parked. I'd keep an eye (ear) on it. If it persists or get worse, take it in. Timing is a little tricky here with Porsche Club Race in 2 weeks. If ther is a problem you don't want to run at HPT. Probably best to take it in this week and have them check it out, should all be warranty.

Ken, The way it's been explained to me - the lifters sort of 'inflate' with oil that is directly fed to each one - it it persists, there may be some sort of blockage to that particular lifter. My guess is the dealer could fix something like this in a day or two, unless they're buried in service appointments. brad

How many miles do you have Ken? Maybe the engine is telling you it's time for an oil service. This is a very advanced diagnostic 'feature' common to Miatas.

I also noticed a lifter or tappet soundyesterday when I was backing into my garage. I didn't think too much about it because I had the drivers side door open and was backing in very slowly. I never noticed hearing this sound before, but I figured maybeit was just because I had the door open. I will have to listen for it during normal driving and see if I still hear it. Russ

K-M-S, sounds like this did not go away after the engine warmed up? Rocker clearqnce needs adj? seems to me like needs a trip in for Porsche check-up. jm

I'd have it looked at sooner rather than later if it's persisting.

Can you hear it only when the car is moving or also while stationary? A stuck valve will show up in higher water jacket temps, so pay attention to your temp. gauge, as that would be 'worst case'. Paul

It makes the sound at idle, not moving, and also under accleration, it almost sounds like a playing card stuck between bicycle wheel spokes with a clothes pin. I cringe at having to take it to my local dealer... but I know I must... /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/sad_smile.gif

Well I dropped my car off at the dealer today, I wasn't going to take it in today but on the way to drop my son off at daycare a CHECK ENGINE LIGHT came on! Ugh. So I figured better safe than sorry so I limped the car over to the dealership and dropped it off. They are supposed to call when they know something. The service manager could definitely hear the ticking sound and i think it has gotten louder. Hey maybe it is a bad engine (produced too much HP) so now they will swap in another, maybe I can swing a 3.8L or a GT3 motor instead! /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/tounge_smile.gif

Don't like to hear stories like this. Good luck!

Keep us posted. Seems like the electronic brain is just a couple of steps behind your own!!! There is a certain satisfaction in that at least, don't you think?

Good luck - I'm sure you'll let us know what's up - lobby for the 3.8L x51 or see if they can shove an old-style v-bottom motor in there like the GT3's... brad

Well I think what tripped the check engine light was that this morning when I started the car I had a puff of white smoke out the back and the idle was rough for about 30-45 seconds and then smoothed out. I suspect the O2 sensors didn't like whatever they saw in the exhaust stream and decided to set off the CE light. Whether or not the two problems are related I can't say for sure, but I could theorize that if a valve isn't opening/closing correctly that too much or too little fuel might cause a lean or rich problem and subsequently trip the CE light.

Maybe the ticking, smoke and check engine light all have to do with the 'more air' mod.

I called the service department and this is what I was told. 1) They think there could be some internal engine damage since they hear a clicking part 2) The car has had 346 revolutions of the engine beyond the rev limiter - now since I had it into their shop last Thursday for the airbag light and the problem started on Saturday I have not even come close to the rev limiter during that period of time, so any of those revolutions beyond the rev limiter would be before this problem happened. I have NEVER missed a downshift, but I have bumped the rev limiter in sport mode before to see what it felt like. I think that chart that shows rev limiter bumping in sport vs. non-sport mode shows that in sport mode it actually goes beyond the 7200 mark bumps back down, then beyond, then bumps back down in a staccato fashion. We are talking 346 revolutions of the crank out of the millions the crank has turned so far. 3) The service guys says he doesn't know if the warranty will cover any engine problems since there are revolutions beyond the rev limiter. He is waiting to hear back from Porsche . This could get ugly...

Hopefully PCNA is going to cover the costs of any engine repairs. I thought that SC just delayed the onset of the fuel cut off, in RPMs,as opposed to raising the RPM number when the complete fuel cutoff occurred. Looks like PAG has made some investments in the Motronic system to cover themselves ala early M3 engine problems!

Hmmm.....if PCNA/PAG states that it takes only 346 or so revolutions beyond he limiter to cause a mechanical failure we are all in very big trouble, the Boxster and 997C2 and S folks included. I think it's fair to say that if they had built the aircooled 911 or race engines such that a few hits beyond limiter would fry the engine they would not enjoy the reputation they risk losing today. My take is that you aren't going to get hassled over this and they will fix the problem on the warranty dime.

I'm real sorry to hear that. I thought the rev limiter was there to protect going beyond. If it did rev past there, then it's the computer's fault (unless of course it over reved on down shift, but you said that never happened). I would hope they are smart enough to realize whatever happens will be posted for all to see.

From the After Sales/Service, Porsche Service Overview from PCNA website: <br style="font-weight: bold;" />'Your Porsche is built to take anything you can throw at it[/quote]. Except for poor quality parts. Which means every genuine Porsche part has been designed by Porsche and rigorously tested under full race conditions.' The bold emphasis is my highlighting ... I take that to mean that they should cover the warranty. After all, you were not in a race event. Rev limiter apparently isn't very good at doing its job ...

well, this doesn't sound too good. n00b question... is over-revving possible on a Tip transmission?

Ken, hate to see this problem arise with you. Keep us posted though as the outcome will be very important to many many people here!!!!!! I will be praying for the best outcome for you...repairs under the warranty with an explanation by PCNA or at least what the service dept. finds.

Ken, sad to hear that. Hope you get that thing fixed. Maybe that extra air of the mod causing the computer to emit the CEL? Keep us posted we will be praying hard for yer croc pal.