4 Symptoms of a Bad Rocker Arm

Your engine may exhibit one or more of the following symptoms if one or more rocker arms are failing. Although, there may be another defective part causing the problem. Regardless of the cause, the problem should be resolved by yourself or a mechanic before the vehicle is driven again.

Clicking or Ticking Noises

Unusual noises involving valves often sound like a rapid clicking or ticking, similar to a sewing machine. You should inspect the rocker arms and surrounding parts while the engine is running if you hear this noise. Faulty rocker arms can get stuck or ineffectively open and close the valves.

There are many other possible causes of strange noises in the combustion chamber and surrounding parts, such as lack of lubrication between moving parts, warped valves, and worn camshaft lobes.

If the rocker arms appear to be working well on visual inspection, a bit of troubleshooting done by yourself or a mechanic is the next step to solving the problem.

Weak Engine Performance or Stalling

Careful timing is everything to a functional internal combustion engine. For maximum efficiency, valves must open and close at just the right time. If the vehicle’s faulty rocker arm is getting in the way of this process, you’ll notice decreased power and poor acceleration. 

In severe cases, the engine can suffer to the point of stalling while driving. Eventually, the vehicle won’t even start until the broken component is replaced.

Check Engine Light On

The vehicle will recognize weak engine performance as well and will warn the driver by illuminating the check engine light. This signal should never be ignored. You’ll want to use a diagnostic scanner to check for any stored codes.

Some examples of rocker arm related DTC codes include P2646 (A rocker arm actuator system performance or stuck off bank 1), P2647 (rocker arm oil pressure switch), and P2662 (B rocker arm actuator sys stuck on bank 2)

Physical Deterioration

Visual inspection of the rocker arms can also reveal any cracks or wear. After removing the valve cover, look for pieces of metal below the rocker arms, as they can grind on the pivot point and valves when they are in poor condition.

Degraded rocker arms should be replaced even if no other symptoms are present because problems will soon follow.