I'm not sure if this is the right section or not, feel free to move. but i have a 2000 eclipse 4 cylinder with 94k miles on it... automatic.

at idle the car has a loud ticking/tapping noise, only at idle. sometimes it will go away, and come right back. I'm not very knowledgable about these cars, so I'm hoping one of you guys might have some experience with this. the car has no SES lights, doesn't stall, surge, stutter, etc. This is a friends car, I'm just trying to help her out, any help is appreciated.

 

when is the last time the oil was changed? how does the oil look? where abouts do you hear the ticking coming from? could be MANY MANY things!!

 

what the oil pressure like at idle? my eagle talons oil pressure would get wicked low at idle and would make ticking sounds. Normally i would say lifters but im pretty sure a 2000 eclipse is ohc. I used to put a bottle of the lucas engine treatment in with the oil whenever i did a oil change and that helped greatly. But that is not fixing the problem really just covering it up.

 

valves need adjustment? timing chain?