Greetings!

I have got a 2000 Honda Accord LX. It has a four cylinder engine. It has 237,000 miles.

Question: What could cause the engine to have what sounds like "valve clatter?"

There is an issue that I am wondering about. The engine sounds a little noisy.

It sounds like valve tappet clatter. However, I think my 2000 Honda Accord LX has got an overhead cam. So I don't think that there are any valve tappets to adjust.

It could be just my imagination. The car runs really good. It doesn't smoke or use oil.

(previous issue/thread: I have had a problem with an oil leak. The Honda dealership got it fixed a couple of weeks ago. Here is a thread on the previous problem: https://www.hondaaccordforum.com/for...uch-fix-49396/)

It could be that I am just listening closer, or more sensitive, to the engine since I have had the (above) problem with the oil leak.

I know that an engine is supposed to make some noise. I am just trying to figure out if the level of noise that my engine is currently making is normal.

I think I might take the car in tomorrow and let the Honda dealership mechanics look at it. The problem is I am kind of low on money.

I would appreciate any information anyone might have.

Thanks.
.

 

the valves are adjustable and if you've had the car since new or close to it, probably not a bad idea to get it done...along with the timing belt and waterpump if they have not been addressed.

 

I had a new timing belt assembly, cam seal installed about 500 miles ago. They charged me about $700.

I don't remember hearing the clatter before they installed the timing belt and cam seal?

Should they have adjusted the valves when they installed the new timing belt, cam seal?

 

as Dr. Drivability said, your valves need to be adjusted. Its normal for valves to clatter after a while.

They could have, but you didn't request it so it was not on their priority list. The maintenance they did should not have had any effect on this.

 

Dr. Driveability, Silver6gen;

Thanks for responding to my question.

How crucial is it to have the valves adjusted? In other words, can I still drive the car for a while or does it need to be done fairly soon?

 

depends how bad / loud it is. but it can usually wait