Upper Engine Noise, Regardless of Engine Speed

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Buick LaCrosse and 2005 Buick Allure. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Cause	Correction
IMPORTANT: A cold piston knock which disappears in 1.5 minutes should be considered acceptable. A cold engine knock usually disappears when the specific cylinder's secondary ignition circuit is grounded out during diagnosis. A light rattle/tapping noise may indicate a valve train, upper engine, concern.
Low oil pressure	Perform an oil pressure test. Refer to Oil Pressure Diagnosis and Testing . Repair or replace as required.
Loose and/or worn follower, valve rocker arm	Inspect the follower, valve rocker arm. Repair or replace as required.
Improper lubrication to the followers, valve rocker arms	Inspect the following components, and repair or replace as required: The follower, valve rocker arm The SHLA, valve lifter The oil filter bypass valve The oil pump and pump screen The cylinder head oil galleries The engine block oil galleries
Broken valve spring	Replace the valve spring.
Worn or dirty SHLAs, valve lifters	Replace the SHLAs, valve lifters.
Stretched or broken timing chain or chains and/or damaged sprocket teeth	Replace the timing chain or chains and sprockets.
Worn timing chain tensioner or tensioners	Replace the timing chain tensioner or tensioners as required.
Worn timing chain shoe or shoes	Replace the timing chain shoe or shoes as required.
Worn timing chain guide or guides	Replace the timing chain guide or guides as required.
Worn engine camshaft lobes	Inspect the engine camshaft lobes. Replace the camshaft or camshafts and SHLAs, valve lifters, as required.
Worn valve guides or valve stems	Inspect the following components, and repair as required: The valves The valve guides
Stuck valves Carbon on the valve stem or valve seat may cause the valve to stay open	Inspect the following components, and repair as required: The valves The valve guides