2.4 l has top end rattle what do you think it might be ? im wondering that its lifters

this is not SOLIDS engine, there is no LASH setting, !
the engine has a chain, and a set of hydraulic bucket valve lifters.
the chain can be bad or any lifter, can be dirty and collalpesd.
when the engine is dead and no oil pressure the lifters are normally collapsed, when you start the engine. oil pressure does 2 things
all lifters pump up, and clearance goes to zero. (no noise)
then the cam tensionor, pumps up (they fail) and chain noise ends.
some noise is ok , cold start, but most end after a minute or 2.
started.

ever read the manual? its here.
use a stethoscope to find out 1 thing , which is it the chain or lifters making that noise.
ive even runs engine with the valve covers off (messy , use a blanket to catch oil flying) to find the true cause.......

read the 2.5L here. its close. (mech. parts)
read the Alldata virtual FSM.

http://www.scantool.net/software/alldata-diy-1-month-subscription.html

it could be a wrist pin, and im not sure if those amc's had hydraulic lifters but sometimes with old lifters when the oil pressure is lower at an idle the lifters arnt filling up all the way so they develope a little valve lash, and when the rpms are raised the oil pressure raises and fills the lifters. you could try chasing the noise down with an automotive stethoscope.

Those model lifters are quite notorious for clogging up with hardened oil as they ran a bit hot... my suggestion would be to service all your lifters or replace them up to you and make sure all clearances are correct at tappets and valves :)
Good Luck :)

probably a failed lifter. Is it a tapping/clicking sound? You can troubleshoot by taking off the valve cover. Put some rags down around the head to catch the oil that will splatter when you start the engine. Run the engine with the cover off for just long enough to see which lifter is not pumping oil or opening it's valve. If this is clearly indicated, the lifter must be replaced to avert further engine damage.

If it is a 'squealing' noise it's probably the alternator/power steering drive belt. Before you turn on the engine in the morning, lightlt smear or spray some oil on the inside of the drive belt to lubricate it. If the squealing stops/disappears, then that's the fault ..

That squealing noise can be caused by an incorrectly tensioned belt, or a worn belt. Replacement is the only option.

The other frightening sounds can best be described as 'rattles' or 'tapping'. When a car stands overnight all the oil drains back into the sump (oil/pan).

There are two things (usually) that can be cause the rattle/tap:
1. Because the oil hasn't been pumped around the system, at start up worn big end bearings can rattle and tap on the crankshaft until the oil 'fills the gaps'. The tapping/rattling goes away as the engine warms and oil is pumped around the lubricating system.

A 'bottom end tapping' is a symptom of worn big ends (they are bearings at the bottom of the piston and fit around the crankshaft).

2. A rattle/tapping from the top of the engine can either be a worn camshaft or 'lazy tappets'. Again, when the engine warms and oil gets to the camshaft and tappets (also called 'hydraulic lifters) the noise will disappear.

If your car has this rattling/tapping noise - identify whether it is coming from just under the rocker box (ie the camshaft/tappets..) or the bottom end of the engine (big end bearings).

If the noise is coming from the top of the engine, try an oil change with a can of thick 'additive' included. A lazy tappet (lifter) isn't too much to worry about. A worn camshaft will affect the performance of the engine, though continue to do its job. An oil change with an additive included may help in quitening things down.

A bottom end tap/rattle (or 'knock') - the sooner that is sorted out the better.

hi, on your vehicle the valves are not adjustable after about 1990 they started using hydraulic lifters, so if you have top end engine rattle then the chances are these lifters will need replacing or worse case the cam lobes could be worn if this is the case then your going to need to do a top end rebuild.

to replace the hydraulic lifters your going to need to remove the cams so as you can get to the lifters under neath the cup they sit under so its quite a big job.

the older type valves were a lot easier as you could adjust them with screwdriver and measuring guages but they started using the new ones as they made less noise and lasted longer, but the downside to this was that you need to do more work to replace the lifters.

let me know how you get on or if you need further assistance ok

hi, the most likely cause is going to be that the hydraulic lifters are going to need replacing these are what control the valves from the cam shaft these lifters ware over time making the gap bigger between the valve and the camshaft so then you get this rattle the only way to solve this problem is to replace the lifters.

Let me know how you get on or if you need further assistance ok

hi, to me it sounds like lifter problem if it was a bottom end problem then the noise would be their all the time as this is always surrounded by oil so im thinking lifter as it takes few minutes for the oil to work to the top of the engine correctly.

What you could try is go out and buy some good quality high millage oil this is thicker and protects high millage engines from any oil seal problems and stops any slight tapping noise you hear from the hydraulic lifters. So give that a try first and see how you get on failing that it would be a case of replacing the lifters.

Let me know how you get on or if you need further assistance ok

When you hear some tapping, that's why you need -valve adjustments. At 137,000miles you probably need more than that to continue your trouble-free drives.

70% of engine rattles in new cars are of because the engine has very minimum oil, you'll find if it has the correct amount of oil in it it will not rattle, cams dont tend to rattle, and newer cars dont use tappets now :) there hydraulic lifters.

if it does rattle, and its annoying you more than anything, and you just want to stop the rattle and not botherd about finding the actual problem them simply put thicker oil in.

but im sure you will find if it doesnt have enough oil in the car, and you fill it to maximum on the dip stick, it will stop the rattle.