philys411

Hey guys I believe I have a bad lifter in my 993, it is making the classic bad lifter tick and it has a weird popping coming from the exhaust. My question is to replace all 12 lifers do I have to pull the engine or can I do it with the engine still in place. Any suggestions would be great.
thanks guys

bcameron59

Exhaust leaks can mimic lifter clicking so check that first.

Best way to isolate a clicking lefter is with a mechanic's stethoscope, you can probably find one for less than $20 at harbor freight or similar. Touch the rod attachment to each of the 4 valve covers, near each of the 3 spark plugs on each (12 points in total) and listen for clicking. Bad lifter will usually be easy to locate from the noise.

Hopefully it's at the lower valve covers as these are a lot easier to access than uppers. You may have other ones that are close to failing depending on miles on the car or since last replaced, what is your mileage?

Some of us have found that if you buy the cheapest lifters, some can be bad right out of the box, YMMV.

Good luck withyour diagnostics and fix

shadow993

You can replace them with the engine in.

If you need plugs and wires, now is the time. The process to access them is the same.

AOW162435

No reason to drop engine. I've replaced two complete sets over the years.




Andreas

philys411

Bcameron, the car has 65,000 miles on it but I autocross it so its not exactly had the easiest life since i've owned it. yes before I get super far into it I will fully diagnose the car before I order parts etc. I highly doubt the car has an exhaust leak (but I could be wrong) just because it doesn't sound like any exhaust leak i've ever herd before. Also if it is a lifter I plan on doing all 12 because if one failed i'm sure the others are not far behind and i'll only buy factory lifters so i'm not worried about getting bad ones.
now to Shaddow how do you get to the intake valve covers? through the wheel well?

bcameron59

Intakes are accessed from the engine compartment. Not easy. Exhaust valves are on the bottom, accessed from the wheel wells.

Some writeups on this; the first one is engine out but shows the general principles. The second is the original article but missing pics, with some commentary on how to do with engine in. Third talks about engine in.

http://www.pcarworkshop.com/index.ph...er_Replacement

https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...r-101-a-2.html

https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...-in-place.html

pp000830

A bad lifter cartridge does not tick, it sounds like a bunch of metal ball making a serious racket at start-up. More likely some carbon stuck in a valve exhaust seat. My 86' Carrera made this sound on and off the entire time I owned it. A good country drive including some high RPM full throttle action may blow it out.

shadow993

Hmmm ... not to be a contrarian, but mine have all ticked.

One I would only hear next to a wall driving down the highway, one was a faint tick like a injector, and the other sounded like a ball-peen hammer taping something. Opened it up and failed hard seals and collapsed.