tofastforyou2

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Sideways

Have you checked the oil?
Have you had someone that knows what is going on listen to it?
Have you stopped driving it until you can get it diagnosed?

You should.

RedY2KS2k

So, is it a "tick" or a "knock"

snakeeater

I agree with Sideways about letting someone who knows something about the car take a look at it. Don't be penny-wise and pound-foolish. Not to offend, but if you are asking these basic questions, this is probably out of your league. It could get very expensive if you don't quickly get to the bottom of this and fix it right. At a bare minimum starting point, you need to get the OBDII trouble codes read and verify that oil system / oil pressure are OK. If oil system checks out fine, one can use a mechanic's stethoscope (or even a screwdriver held to your ear) to locate the general vicinity of the noise. Any mechanic could do this for pretty cheap. Cheaper than you could buy the test equipment for anyway. Look around in your local region's sub-forum on this website for recommended mechanics, if needed. Good luck. Hope it's nothing major.

terrors75

If it's a ticking sound that might just mean you need a Valve adjustment and if it sounds like a baseball card stuck on a bike wheel that means your TCT (timing chain tensioner) is gone and you should get it replaced as soon as possible.
Use this method to check if it is your TCT, take a very long screw driver if you have and place the tip of it on the tct and the rubber end towards your ear and listen to see if there is baseball card in the spook sound, if it is then it's your tct.
If you say your car is an 04 and if the previous owner was a very spirited driver you might need to change the tct.. If you need a Valve adjustment then look for Billman250 on the forum, he's the best guy to contact. It would help a lot more if you post a sound clip or a video of how it sounds like. This way more ppl can help you...

SCCS2K

Be aware this is a NOISY engine by design. If it just sounds like you can hear your valves way more than you could on your last car, for example, then you're likely fine.

Doesn't sound like actual "knocking" though, so feel grateful for that. Probably either valve adjustment or TCT, as terrors75 said. Let us know what you find out!

terrors75

keep us posted on your findings...

FilthyAp2

After listening to the vid.... i wanted to say it sounded like your ac clutch but that wouldn't do anything to your vtec not engaging......

Sounds like someone needs a valve adjustment.......

spitvenom

I say TCT

terrors75

Just do one thing at a time. Put a post in the forum, or look in the DIY, FAQ section of the Under the Hood. There is a whole list of cel list. Then post the code in your title and find out who has had that code before.
Next you want to do a valve adjustment and change your tct out. That is the sound of your ticking issue. Well, it's a two parter ticking. It's a simple job to change the tct but you would require a real mechanic to tackle your valve adjustment.