Noisy lifter may be covered already but I'm new and can't find it. My wife drives our 2009 HHR,2.2L about 40 miles a day.For the first 5 years the car had been in Ohio. Almost everyday the car was started using remote start. On cold days the HHR would warm up for about 5 minutes every morning. On hot days she would remote start with A/C on. At around 70,000 miles I noticed a sound that sounds like a tapping lifter. When the car was driven for a few minutes the noise would go away. Now she has the car in Southern CA. with close to 80,000 miles.The problem has gotten worse. When she drives for awhile he tapping noise gets a little quieter but the sound will not go away.
Is this a common problem with the 2.2L engine? Can the problem be something other then a lifter. Is there something I can do beside taking it apart. Any info would be appreciated.

 

Do a search for timing chain tensioner. There is a thread in the how to section about replacing it that has a video of the tapping noise a bad tensioner makes. See if that is the noise you hear or perhaps how it sounded before.

If it is that and you replace it in time then the all should be good. If it is that and you let it go too long it can become a lot more costly and time consuming.

 

This is the thread https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...-rattle-46159/

 

I moved this to general repair.

 

Might be the injectors making noise.

Some mechanics think the timing chain and guides should be replaced at 70,000 miles.

Anyway, take it to a mechanic for proper diagnosis. There is a chance of "dead on road" failure.

 

My car also makes the noise that sounds like a lifter when initially accelerating before full warm up. Figured it was the tensioner, but when I checked, it already has the newer style (thicker nut and bump). Its a 2008 which already had 74k on it when purchased. My question is, has anyone had to replace one of the newer style tensioners? Car only has 87k miles now.

 

Agree with donbrew, could very possibly be the injectors, which on my 2007 2.2 are not exactly silent. Little more noise when cold. In my case, however, its been like that since new, and in over seven years has not changed.

 

Thanks for pointing out donbrew's response, that makes me feel better. After reading up on all the tensioner replacements I just assumed mine had never been done and been noticing the noise more that has always been there since I bought it.