i have a 06 lexus gs430. the car has always had a slight tick/noise coming from the vvt solenoids. i remove both of them and see that one of them are completely dry. what testing needs to be done?
Have you consulted a repair manual? The oil control valve might be place to start:
@chucktobias yes, i just replaced both of them so they are testing just fine
@chucktobias it still makes the ticking noise oil has been changed
Are you sure it's the VVT solenoid making the noise? It can be difficult to locate the exact source of engine noises. A mechanic's stethoscope or piece of tubing can help with that.
Are there any codes related to the valve timing? Any symptoms other than the ticking noise? Also you will find there are numerous videos on youtube on diagnosing VVT issues. For example:
@chucktobias i’m not exactly sure i can do more testing but it sounds just like the vvt rattle/ticking that i’ve found online. i don’t have any code related to vvt and honestly no symptoms that i can tell
I'd think if there were a VVT problem it would show up as symptoms and/or codes. (In severe cases it would trip the check engine light.) If possible you might want to record a video demonstrating the noise, upload it to youtube, and post the link here.
I know Scotty has stated that with older Toyota products if you experience a VVT rattle on cold startup to just live with it due to the expense of diagnosis and repair. However from your description it appears the ticking does not go away as the engine warms up. That car is 20 years old (you did not mention mileage) so some deterioration of components is to be expected.
@chucktobias well is it normal to have a dry vvt solenoid? i just took the video and it seems that the noise might actually be coming from the value cover maybe or around that area. it has 120k miles i bought it very recently. its a very nice car and it runs very strong still. here’s the videos. you can hear the noise from standing a good distance from the car. https://youtube.com/shorts/38DpVZQOfDE?si=na70RprABHQnwWgW
here’s the videos
sounds like normal injector clicking to me. Especially if it was always there. If the engine runs fine, I wouldn't try to look for problems.
well is it normal to have a dry vvt solenoid?
I have no idea if oil normally drains out of those. I don't think the repair manual goes into that kind of detail and I've never owned a car with variable valve timing. However if a VVT actuator were not working properly (or at all) I'd expect the vehicle would be throwing codes and exhibiting noticeable symptoms.
here’s the videos. you can hear the noise from standing a good distance from the car.
Sounds a lot like a light valve tap (worn tappets) or fuel injectors.
@chucktobias thank you for all the info! i’m honestly not to sure what worn tappets are. also if you hit the gas it seems like the tapping going faster
i’m honestly not to sure what worn tappets are.
Tappets (aka valve lifters) are what sit between the camshaft and the valve stems, and are used to adjust clearance between valves and camshaft lobes (commonly referred to as valve lash). This is necessary for quiet and correct operation of the valves. Tappets can be hydraulic or mechanical. Most modern cars use hydraulic tappets which adjust valve lash (clearance) automatically. Those with mechanical tappets require periodic checking and adjustment. As the tappets wear, or their hydraulic components age and become less effective, the valve lash increases which causes tapping noises.
It looks like your engine uses shims to adjust valve lash. Here is the procedure:
if you hit the gas it seems like the tapping going faster
That's going to be the case with any mechanical noise being made by the engine.
Bear in mind that it's not possible to determine from your video if the above is the source of your tapping noise. There are other things that can cause that type of sound, such as fuel injectors or even exhaust manifold leaks.
By the way, that engine uses a timing belt. If original it is past due for replacement, along with the water pump. That is an interference engine, so if the belt fails the engine will be destroyed. The procedure is documented in the link below but is best left to a professional: