So the other day I heard a rapid ticking noise coming from the engine area. It would only be heard when I was driving in the 2-3k rpm range and then it would disappear. I took my car into the dealership, got an oil change, but after the oil change, they couldn't reproduce the sound. they thought it was the heat shield around the cat, but to me it seemed that the noise was coming from the engine. Well either way, the sound is now gone. But I'm still worried. Any clues as to what this was? and what to do if it comes back?

I've already tried a search and no help.

 

Then you do some diagnostics and testing on your own and gain as much information as you can.
Does the ticking change with rpm? Does it do it in all gears? Does it do it in neutral, sitting still and just revving it to that rpm? Is it road speed dependent? Does it do it when you only accelerate or decelerate or both? Can you duplicate it with the hood open and operating the throttle at the throttle body? If so, can you pin point what part of the engine it's coming from.
Just telling us you have a ticing sound at a certain rpm gives us very little to work with. Sometimes, help comes to those who help themselves.

 

It will do it in all gears, even sitting in neutral and just revving it. It does it when it is accelerating. And yes I have done it with the throttle body as well. It did sound internal to me. As to the location, I'm not a mechanic. The ticking gets faster as rpms increase. But then disappears at higher rpms. It does not make the sound anymore, but I am concerned there is something that may be wrong. I am asking the board because I am wondering if someone else has had this issue before.

 

Many owners have had ticking engines, ticking drivetrains. It can be one of several things. Noone can tell you for sure based on what you've posted. Start looking toward the cam chain tensioner and valves, belt tensioner or any one of the several belt driven accessories.

 

i stumbled onto this thread while searching...
I, too, have EXACT SAME condition described by the person who started this thread. It's not loud but if you try hard, it's loud enough to be picked up.
I only have 3k miles on my car. I wonder it's a normal/unique characteristic of ths s2000 engine?

 

Well mine just naturally went away. hopefully it wasnt a bad thing.... But havent had any problems with the car.

 

OK,let's move "Tire and Wheels"forum,in "S-2000 talk"forum.

 

 

Thanks for coming back and giving us an update.
I'm going to take a wild guess at what may have been going on.
Recently, a local S2000 owner came to me with a similar ticking. I listened to almost every part of his engine with a mechanic's stethoscope. You must realize that through a stethoscope, EVERYTHING in an engine ticks. One just has to be somewhat discriminating when trying to figure out what's normal and what's not.
The timing chain tensioner was ticking. He got the dealer to give him new one on warranty. The ticking was greatly diminished but was still there, so I concluded that it was normal. Of course all the valves ticked but they all did it at the same level. IAC solenoid has been known to tick, but his didn't. Then I listened to each and every injector. They all ticked also, BUT, the very last one (#4) was significantly louder than the others, with a much more pronounced tapping through the steth. My recommendation to him was to use some injector cleaner at double strength at 1/2 a tank of gas. We're still waiting.

If you had a sticky injector, it may have simply worked its way free without any intervention from you.

 

timing chain tensioner.
it will do it more when the oil is wasted. because it is thinner and wont allow the piston to stay pumped up. then as soon as your oil is fresh, and pressure is back, wallah! you have no more rattle. just save a couple bucks and have it changed at honda, or by someone you trust. you should be able to pick one up for 150ish. later dave