MY 2000 solara sedan
HI, My 2000 tj solara sedan has,had,has that tapping noise from top of engine,had mechanic do this, he cleaned the main oil pick up thingy inside the moter said it was nearly covered with sludgey stuff...then he changed the timing belt,and some idle tensioner thing.....it sounded ok but after a week the start up tapping returned but goes away after a few minutes...sorry the engine has 197 klms on it....tried all the oil additives,like nulon quiet lifter and liqui molly engine cleaner and lifter quitener, also using 10/40 nulon synthetic oil,.....but through the day sometimes it starts with no noise mostly.....its very annoying as this car is so reliable,sometimes it starts with a noise and if you turn it off and on real fast the noise goes away....but then there is that tapping sound which goes away after a few minutes.......had a dude from the drag racing scene look at it and he thinks a lash(?) (kinky huh? adjuster is the problem, he thinks some crap could be inside it or a broken spring?...Is a lash adjuster(omg thats funny) very expensive to fix?.......can you fix one or do you have to change others?......any help plze guys an gals is most welcome.......thnx ps....sometimes it starts up quiet then a tapping starts but goes away?????? Help???????

My name really is Solara,born 1983......nice to see they named a car after me.....LOL

The tapping sound you have in 99% the pre tensioner, this may be the part that was changed however if used an aftermarket one then again here is yet another aftermarket one failing

The best test, first thing in the morning disconnect the crank angle sensore (triangle plug on the drivers side of the inlet manifold) and then crank for 10 secs, plug in and start motor. If no noise then there is the issue. Try it a few times to make sure you were not having a good morning if that makes snese. Do over a few days to properly eliminate.

If is the lash adjusters, may be the bleed holes are blocked, no amount of additive will fix this, only way is to remove the rockers, clean them properly, replace any faulty lash adjusters and then put back together.

More than likely its the lash adjusters you will be better off changing them ALL at once.If you are mechanically minded its something you should be able to do yourself. You will need some Tappet gaskets and seals and the new lash adjusters .And probly do the plugs while everything is apart also. At a guess around $300 in parts.

thnx a bunch for taking time to reply...will ask the guy from the dragstrip if he can change the lash adjusters or clean them for me.........solara