It has been 3 years since I have done any work on my 93 2.2L Legacy. The Autozone replaced in 2000 axle was getting too noise on left turns. So I let the Legacy sit for a week while waiting for the free replacement axle and replaced the rotor and pads all on the front drivers side while I was at it. All this went well until I started the engine and a loud tapping sound appeared, the engine was struggling a bit the first minute or so. The struggle rough idle was not as severe as when the intake manifold gasket had a crack several years ago.

 

Drove the the car around the block 25MPH tops and except for the tapping noise all seemed OK, no loss of power or hesitation or vibrations, just noisier tapping. The new CV joint doesn't click any more and the new rotor and pads are also OK.

 

Used the stetoscope on the injectors and the heads. Sounds noisy on front passenger side of head. Not sure what to do next.

 

Probably sounds like a lifter problem, the injectors couldn't be that loud.

 

Robert Illan

Probably a lifter bled down.

i have always found that a lifter that has bled down from sitting will pump back up faster if you start the engine and shut it off,do this 6-8 times in a row and just let it run for about 5 seconds at a time.