Sometimes they're adjusable, other times not. Rather than opening up the
valve covers first... try a can of oil additive made specifically for this
problem. It *may* work.

"Ken" > wrote in message
...
> Anything I can do about lifter-tick?
>
> What about the loud clacking noise?
>
> Jack Izer wrote:
> > Lifters?
> >
> > "Ken" > wrote in message
> > om...
> >
> >>I have a 2000 Dodge Neon ES (3-spd automatic) with about 50,000 miles.
> >>There are a few issues:
> >>
> >>Since about 30,000 miles, it has made a ticking sound when I first start
> >>the engine in the morning. It's loudest in the beginning, and will
> >>gradually become softer until it's not audible anymore (when the engine
> >>warms up to operating tempurature) within 5-10 minutes. The ticking has
> >>a frequency of about 2 ticks per second at engine idle speed, and will
> >>increase as the engine is revved. The ticking is louder when it's colder
> >>(colder weather, or sitting for more hours).
> >>
> >>Recently (last 5,000 miles), when I start the car, there is also a LOUD
> >>clacking noise that is sporatic and comes in bursts, lasting just one or
> >>two seconds each... This clacking noise is pretty scary.
> >>
> >>The car hasn't been driven much the past three months, as I have just
> >>purchased a new toy (2004 Dodge SRT-4), but the last time I drove it, I
> >>experienced occasional "spurts" from the engine. For example, I'm
> >>accelerating at a slow and steady pace, and for a split second, I feel
> >>the engine "tugging" the car forward, kind of like an engine with a
> >>rough idle.
> >>
> >>Any ideas? I'm pretty ignorant to diagnosing problems and am new to any
> >>type of repair work. Through the life of the car, I've down regular
> >>oil/filter changes myself, and have taken the car to the dealer for a
> >>30k tune-up, but that's all... The recent problems have really got me
> >>wondering... I'm thinking about new plugs/wires and flushing the cooling
> >>system... The ticking noise may be normal? but the loud clacking noise
> >>can not be good....
> >
> >
> >