This has been going on for a month now and is driving me crazy. I have to have my window down in order to hear it. The best description for the sound I can think of is two pieces of plastic quickly hitting each other constantly. The location is hard to pinpoint but it sounds like it's coming from the driver's side front wheel well/where the a-pillar ends towards the front of the car/driver's side header bank area.

when it does it (or when I can hear it over the exhaust): 2500 and up RPMs, part/half throttle, with the car in gear

it does not do it: at idle; in neutral or park while revving

I've had two shops tell me it isn't an exhaust leak after looking it over, and a third didn't even hear it at all.

 

I had the exact same problem, under load, 2500 RPMS, etc. Turned out to be the header gasket.

 

Is AIR still connected?

 

Yes..

 

had a similar prolbem with ticking... turned out to be a worn out pully

a nice trick my dad showed me for pinpointing a noise is to take a solid rod and lay it on random objects (with your ear to the end)... you will know when you find the source

good luck

 

That works with a rubber hose to your ear as well. It kind of sorts out all the noises going on in there.

 

it culd be a spark plug or plug wire has come loose.

 

is it really loud or could it be described as sounding just like an exhaust leak?

 

nice tip-thanks

 

AIR plus LTs can lead to a fluttering/ticking of the one way check valve. Block it off and you'll see if this is the problem.

 

Today to test this I just took off the rubber hose after the check valve and drove around. Sure enough, no ticking! Thank you.

 

i am havin the same problem my trans am is the shop for it the same side they said that a rocker had came loose from the bearing which i dont believe

 

Mine turned out to be a weld on the header collector that wasn't finished. I had to get that fixed and the tick went away.