My car is making a ticking sound. It does it when i start the car and goes away after about 5 minutes. When i accelerate the noise happens more rapidly. Wondering what it is and how to fix it. THANKS

 

Oh, thats an exhaust leak for sure. You should stick your hand down there and see if you can feel an exhaust leak somewhere. If you find it just replace the gasket where it is coming out. That's how I fixed mine, but be careful not to touch the manifold or pipe because it is very hot.

 

if it were an exhaust leak wouldnt it be there all the time though?

 

Yes... I was thinking a lifter problem, but the fact that it comes back at higher rpms, I'm not sure.

 

Sounds like an exhaust leak or maybe a rocker

 

High rpms only? Piston slap beeeoootch. Been there, done that

 

Could be the AC system too... i heard something about them ticking when they are empty.

 

I dont have AC. IF it is a lifter is it a big problem and how do i fix it THANKS

 

If it is a lifter, you'll have to take the whole top part of the engine off minus the heads. And check the lifters down in the lifter valley.

If you do have too, be sure to stick a rag down in the distributor hole, last thing you want is something to fall down in there.

I would wait for some more opinions before going thru all that trouble.

 

is it a tpi car, if so, what is the extent of the 'ticking'. I've been in a few tpi cars and all seem to have a ticking, like lifter noise is almost amplified by the tpi system or something.?.?.

 

He's carbed.

 

Don't worry about what to do if it's a lifter, it isn't.

It's an exhaust leak at or near the head. Try a set of header gaskets; if it's been doint ig for any length of time, the gasket is toast, and just tightening the bolts won't fix it.

 

But why does the noise tend to go away? Then again, maybe he just can't hear it.

 

Because the parts get hot and expand. Header gasket leaks behave like that. Exhaust manifolds act that way even more. If they're still manifolds, odds are that tightening the bolts will fix it.