Q: Do these cars need valve adjustments?

asked by on May 03, 2016

Car is making ticking noise. Oil level and pressure are good

My car has 180000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Noise from engine or exhaust Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Hi there, thanks for writing in.

Your particular year and model of Subaru does not need to have the valves adjusted. It uses hydraulic lifters that are self adjusting. If there is a ticking noise, it could be that one of the hydraulic lifters has failed, causing it to become noisy. I would suggest having the noise professionally diagnosed by a qualified technician, such as one available from YourMechanic.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Suspension up front makes a ton of noise, creaks
The front suspension has many moving parts which could cause the noise you describe. The most likely cause is the sway bar links binding. They can be inspected by turning the suspension steering and bouncing the car up and down,...
O2 sensor not coming off
I will assume you are trying to remove the sensor yourself. The location of the oxygen sensor beneath the car allows rust to take over much of the exposed metal binding some parts together. It becomes very difficult to remove...
Low gas mileage
Real world mileage numbers very rarely stack up to those advertised by the manufacturer, but 13 MPG does seem very low. There are several things you can do to improve your mileage. First, make sure your tires are properly inflated...
Fuel Rail System Error Code
Considering that the code is related to a problem in the fuel system, you should leave it to the professionals to avoid personal injury. When fueling the car, check twice to make sure the fuel cap is fastened properly. Low...
P0301 and P0411 codes on vw Passat 2003 1.8lt turbo
Fault code P0301 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0301-obd-ii-trouble-code-cylinder-1-misfire-detected-by-jamahl-walker) is a misfire on cylinder # 1 and P0411 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0411-obd-ii-trouble-code-secondary-air-injection-system-incorrect-flow-detected-by-spencer-clayton) is a fault for Incorrect Secondary Air Injection. Trouble code P0301 is most likely due to a faulty ignition coil (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ignition-coil-replacement). To verify before purchasing one,...
Car loses power steering when turning in the rain
Hi there, thanks for writing in. The issues you're experiencing are commonly caused by an exposed wire that is shorting when introduced to moisture or ignition problems that temporarily shut down electrical power to important components. The power steering on...
I touched the positive and negative battery terminals together, now the car has no power at all
Everyone does this at some point. Sounds like there may be an issue with your starter. When you grounded the battery out, those wires are also connected to your starter and could have arced it out. But first, check your...
New radiator, which was installed incorrectly and overheated my car. Now my alternator is going out could this be related?
Overheating can damage many engine components such as the thermostat, crankshaft position sensor, and so forth. Overheating does damage alternators but the overheating in alternators is typically caused by electrical overloads, that is too much current flowing through the alternator....

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Subaru Outback
One One of the original sport wagons, the Subaru Outback has enjoyed a high level of popularity over the years, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon. While other manufacturers are trying to create crossover SUVs...
The Best Used Cars to Buy for Towing Light Loads
Towing Towing is tricky business and depending on the weight you’re dealing with, it really determines what vehicle is best for you. If it’s light loads you’re looking at towing, we’ve put together a list of the top five cars...
The Best Used Cars to Buy for Senior Citizens
Everyone Everyone needs a way to get around. You need to get groceries, get to doctors’ appointments, visit with family and more. However, senior citizens have very different needs when it comes to buying a used car than other demographics....