2000 Toyota Solara oil warning light blinked on.

JAMOSEN

MEMBER
2000 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA
2.2L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
75,750 MILES

I was in the hospital for 5 1/2 months over the last 1 1/2 years and my 2000 Solara sat for almost a good year, when I was ready to start driving again I put a new battery in and had all the fluids checked and it started up and purred like a kitten. Having less than 80,000 miles on a 15 year old car it should run like almost new. Well it would sit for months at a time and just the other day i'm driving it on a errand and I noticed a red light flash on and off on my dash, the second time it did it I saw it was a oil light so I took it to a garage and had them check the oil. It was over 2 quarts low! I know it only holds 3.8 quarts so I was pretty pissed at myself for not checking the oil more often. When I started it up again it still purrs like a kitten and runs great, no power loss but around 2000 to 4000 RPM it starts to have a tapping noise then after the 4000 RPM mark the noise subsides, and still no loss of power, back fire, or misfire? Any suggestions?

4 Replies

ED-WEEZY21

MECHANIC
248 POSTS

I'm not entirely sure what the setup is on these vehicles but this sounds like either a bad lifter or a bad tappet. They both work the same way just different setups. Unfortunately, this could have been caused due to low oil level and friction caused parts to become damaged. The valve cover should be removed and the camshafts may have to be removed also in order to inspect the all the head assembly components. I would take it to a pro and have it checked out. Best of luck.

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Thursday, July 23rd, 2015 AT 4:26 PM

ED-WEEZY21

MECHANIC
248 POSTS

Also keep in mind, I, myself obviously can't hear the noise so it depends on where the noise sounds the loudest. Again, if this vehicle uses a timing chain setup, it could be a faulty timing chain tensioner and causing the timing chain to tap. Your mechanic should figure this out fairly quick if he's experienced.

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Thursday, July 23rd, 2015 AT 4:29 PM

JAMOSEN

MEMBER
9 POSTS

It has a timing belt that needs to be replaced every 90,000 miles so I don't think it has anything to do with that. I was thinking that it might have something to do with the hydraulic lifters being plugged up. If that's even possible.

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Thursday, July 23rd, 2015 AT 5:08 PM

ED-WEEZY21

MECHANIC
248 POSTS

Yea if its a timing belt, then it would be making noise basically at all speeds especially at idle depending on how bad the adjuster is but that would sound more like a slapping on plastic. I don't think this is your problem although I would perform a timing belt service anyways as preventive maintenance and you're nearing that mark anyways. I wouldn't be too quick at a clogged lifter because usually that happens with lack of oil changes when the oil starts to turn into sludge which doesn't seem to be your case since you were just short on oil. When a lifter collapses, it starts to make a tapping noise that you referred to and it could fluctuate with RPMs. This can only be verified by disassembly. Try to isolate where the noise is the loudest before tearing anything apart and go from there.

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Thursday, July 23rd, 2015 AT 5:38 PM