Well I can hear the noise slightly when I am at a stop next to other vehicals or even soumetimes when next to walls or something that echo's the sound back. It is some kind of ticking noise that is really faint, I can't tell, but it doesn't seem loud enough to be metal to metal anything. I can NOT hear the ticking to well from when the hood is pop open from on top. I can hear it from underneath the front of the car but it is coming somewhere from under the car in the middle behind the wheels. I would say a foot or so back from the optispark. The ticking accelerates with the rpms, and sometimes is louder and other times softer. What do you all suggest that it can be???

 

lifters? though if it is not really loud, probably not... could also be an exhaust leak.

 

Well how loud is loud? I do not seem to notice any decrease in performance, just the worry that my car is in pain or going to die on me. Any symptoms or way that I could find out what it could be? I am thinking exhaust leak right now but I can not be to sure until I can somehow find a way to get under it and pinpoint the sound. Another thing is that is seems to be a little louder when the ac or heater is turned on!

 

if it is an exhaust leak, it wont do anything except possibly affect emmisions, if it is lifters then eventually your cam lobes will wear down. and you will need a new cam... take it to a mechanic to see if it wont be high dollar.

 

Make sure your spark plugs are tight.

 

I'd check you manifold bolts common thing to go wrong

 

If you still have the AIR valves on they can also tic when they start to go bad.

 

Keep in mind though that it is coming from UNDER the vehicle from where the block starts to before the tranny.

 

I thought maybe the same thing.