# Valves & lifters

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/valves-lifters/3565>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 23, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valves-lifters/3565 "2007-08-23T22:44:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![redvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ebca7d/32.png) [@redvan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/redvan)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valves-lifters/3565/1 "2007-08-23T22:44:02Z")

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is it difficult to check my valves and lifters on a 99 sunfire?

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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:** [August 23, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valves-lifters/3565/2 "2007-08-23T23:25:02Z")

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The question would be; why?

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**Author:** ![redvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ebca7d/32.png) [@redvan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/redvan)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valves-lifters/3565/3 "2007-08-24T02:21:42Z")

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i have a ticking from the top end and i would like to fix it myself if possible…thanks

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 2:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valves-lifters/3565/4 "2007-08-24T02:26:48Z")

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Purchase a service manual for your vehicle. Haynes manuals are good, but factory manuals are the best. The manual will tell you EXACTLY how to do anything you want to do.

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**Author:** ![redvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ebca7d/32.png) [@redvan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/redvan)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 5:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valves-lifters/3565/5 "2007-08-24T05:10:57Z")

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thank you for the info… i’ll check it out…

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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:** [August 24, 2007, 5:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valves-lifters/3565/6 "2007-08-24T05:13:09Z")

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There should not be any adjustment if that is what you’re looking for. I think this model uses hydraulic valve lash fingers.

A valve ticking would more than likely be caused by either a sludged up or defective valve lash adjuster.  
If it’s the former, try adding a can of SeaFoam to the engine oil and see if the tick goes away.  
A defective valve lash adjuster would have to be replaced and in this case spending 20 bucks on a Haynes manual would help a lot if you do the repair yourself. As usual, I always recommend avoiding a Chiltons manual at all costs.

I would also point out that a tick can be caused by something other than a valve adjuster. A tiny exhaust manifold leak or a spark jumping to ground because of a defective spark plug/plug wire can also mimic a valve tick to a tee.  
Hope that helps anyway.