i didnt have time to do the steth thing yet.. but now the ticking is only when the gas pedal is pushed down reguardless of RPM range. The best way to describe the sound is tapping a ballpoint pen on a glass table at a steady pace

 

Timing Chain Tensioner... mine did this ticking noise like u describe at any RPM... changed it 2 w/e's ago and no more tick,tick,tick... id go tht route 1st... not 2 pricey... got mine $128 shipped and 'bout a 30 min. job... may b your prob...

 

Where is it located? i will listen for it

 

Right below the VTEC solenoid at the front left of the block if your looking at the motor at the edge of the valve cover... There is a thread on this some where with pics... I used tht to help me with mine... I'll see if i can find the link or you search for it... TCT DIY it what i searched for...

 

Pay attention, boy!

 

There's also a How-To for replacing it around here, somewhere. Apparently this is becoming a common problem. Too bad more people aren't getting them replaced under warranty, otherwise maybe Honda would have a recall.

 

Try replacing your oil. Mine does this when the oil has been in there near 3k miles. I change the oil and the noise goes away.

 

^^^I have this same ticking and i has gotten MUCH louder than when i first heard, i have been thinkkingits the tensioner but i wanna be sure before i go and buy one. Would valve tick be that loud? the idle is good no loud ticking or anything but if u rev then i can hear it. When i accelrate the ticking gets LOUD and its constant. Gets loudest around 3000-4000 rpm i think after that the motor is just too loud to hear it. I hope its the tensioner so i could just buy one and get ride of this sound. The sound is more like a fluttering ticking sound. I think when the car is fully warm its louder as well.

 

All these symptons you all are describing is exactly what mine sounded like b4 the TCT replacement i did... our cars do have a noisy valvetrain but ths noise is audible above tht... I think the TCT prematurely wears out and may be a faulty design overall... ive heard tht it does get louder as it worsens... the TCT works off of oil pressure... all im say'n is, i changed mine and the weird noise isnt there anymore... you guys prob want to search on ths issue... from what i read about it on here, im afraid its a common concern and replacement item...

 

ok.. lets assume it IS the TCT.. will driving on it cause it to break and wreck my motor?