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1997 Toyota Avalon

Question: Approximate cost for a valve adjustment. How many labor hours shoud it take?

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Crazy Norwegian, 3.0L V6, Tualatin, OR, July 12, 2011, 20:11
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When Idyling the engine makes a clicking sound. Not super loud, but noticable. The Power of this vehicle is some sluggish.

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  • Answer #1

    PRESTONFITZ from Honest 1 Auto Care, July 12, 2011, 20:50
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     Technician

    I'm interested in why you believe the valve adjustment will cure your issue? Most of the motoring public has no idea what a valve adjustment is, and when specific questions like this are posed at our shop, most of the time somebody told the customer somewhere else to perform said service. Is there a check engine lamp on by any chance? How many miles on the vehicle? Anyhow, if I looked it up correctly in my information system, the labor time appears to be 5.2 hours. This particular setup involves replacing shims underneath the cam follower cups, it's a pretty involved process, and not something that is done as a maintenance item very often, which is why I am curious as to how you came to the conclusion of valve adjustment. Hope this information helps, let me know if you need more assistance.

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    Crazy Norwegian, July 12, 2011, 21:36
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    The vehicle has 160,000 miles. I purchased in May of 2007 when it had 70,000 miles. I've done all the maintenence suggested to me for the last 4 years and 90,000 miles. The car has been a little doggy recently. I had a mechanic neighbor listen to the engine idyling and he seemed to think the clicking noise suggested the need for a valve adjustment? Thanks for responding.

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  • Answer #2

    patrick mannion from Greg Solow's Engine Room, July 12, 2011, 23:09
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    Great answer by Prestonfitz. We work on a lot of Toyotas about 5 hours to adjust the valves.Loose valves you may here, tight valves you don't hear until a valve has burned or the engine just starts to have high hydrocarbons when a state smog inspection is done. Toyots hold there valve adjustment well, maybe at 90k you may have to adjust a valve or two, if they were never checked and you plan on keeping the car long term it is a frequently neglected service item on many Toyotas and Honda engines.

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