2003 Toyota Camry CAM noise

SUSIE RADAR

MEMBER
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
127,000 MILES

Car had the shortblock threads fail with resulting separation of head and shortblock and total loss of all oil. Repaired but now makes loud cam noise. Car is in great shape other than this issue. Was well maintained and mostly highway miles prior to problem. Has decreased resail value now.
1.)What would be the cost of repair?
2.) Would it be worth repairing?
3.)If not repaired, does this impact life of motor, gas milage, etc?
4.)Also motor is much louder now - can styrofoam be replaced to muffle motor sound?
Thank you so much for your help.

5 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

Was the head checked for warp or just machined flat, if it was bent beyond limits it should have been straightened, if the head is bent the cam will either destroy the cam journals in the head or break a cam. As for the exhaust noise, you can't do as you suggest, the exact cause of the noisy exhaust will have to be rectified.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 AT 9:17 AM

SUSIE RADAR

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3 POSTS

Thank you so much for your quick response. After putting $2500 into this, I am at a loss so I appreciate your expertise.

The head was sent to the 'head shop' who said it was fine. Per the garage, there was no apparant damage to the engine and they were surprised when the car was started after the repair that it made the noise.

Do you have a ballpark on fixing it or if it is worth repair? If not repaired, will it affect the life of engine, gas milage, etc?

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Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 AT 2:29 PM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

If there are no apparent exhaust leaks, it may be a bit throaty if the valve timing is not set correct, this may cause fuel economy problems and you may have further head problems down the road, the valve timing check is a simple job of the mechanic to do.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 AT 5:21 PM

SUSIE RADAR

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3 POSTS

Thank you for your quick response. Do you have any idea how much it would cost to fix the cam problem that makes the loud "clicking" sound? It sounds like when you put a card on a bicycle spoke, the faster you go, the faster the clicking. At some point it blurs together. It is pretty loud.

So, 2 questions:
1.) Any idea what the cost of repair would be?

2.) Even if fixed, does this significantly increase the odds of premature engine failure so it is not worth fixing?

Thank you again for all your help.

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Thursday, May 20th, 2010 AT 7:42 AM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

This is a bit hard to say, with out having the problem in front of us and seeing the actual problem first hand we can only speculate, we need to know if it is actually crank speed or cam speed, it may be a broken valve spring, thing can be checked with a feeler gauger and doing a valve clearance check, if a spring is broken, the head will have to come off and this may start to cost, have the valve clearances check first.

Mark (mhpautos)