# Tapping Noise

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/tapping-noise/50922>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** lexus, 300\
**Created:** [June 26, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tapping-noise/50922 "2010-06-26T19:42:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![glford](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/54ee81/32.png) [@glford](https://community.cartalk.com/u/glford)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tapping-noise/50922/1 "2010-06-26T19:42:07Z")

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I have a tapping noise that starts when I start the car and when I accelerate the noise also speeds up. I have a terrible fear of valves but hope it is something else. Car has 170,000 but is not driven hard.

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**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tapping-noise/50922/2 "2010-06-26T20:05:54Z")

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Please Give The Model-Year Of The Lexus RX 300 And Since You Feel The Noise Is Coming From The Engine, Which Engine Does It Have ? Does It Have An Automatic Transmisssion ? AWD ?

CSA

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**Author:** ![geeaea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@geeaea](https://community.cartalk.com/u/geeaea)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tapping-noise/50922/3 "2010-06-26T20:14:13Z")

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So, kind …so gentle …rather noble and gentile. I’m humbled, CSA.

I’ll ask a generic question.

When’s the last time the oil and filter were changed? I hope this isn’t another sludged Lexus that was driven under the (play on words here) American Standard maintenance modality.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tapping-noise/50922/4 "2010-06-26T22:22:17Z")

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This should be a mechanical lifter engine.  
Look at the underhood sticker and see if a valve lash spec is given.

Valve lash should be inspected and adjusted as necessary every 30k miles and excessive valve lash will cause a tapping noise.  
Tapping that has gone on for quite a while can damage the lifter, the valve stem, and even the camshaft lobe(s).

Making a wild guess here, I’d venture to say the lash has never been inspected at all.