I just bought my S2000, it's a 2002 with 12,000 miles (engine model AFTER the oil jet bolt problem). It's been babied it's entire life, and I just started noticing this after spending some time to get to know her. I'm not sure what I'm hearing, but it's a very distinct tapping noise when I accelerate. Cold or warmed up, it increases in frequency the higher the rpm goes. Sounds a bit like a sewing needle, and I just moved to an S2000 from an Integra and the Integra was much smoother when it came to engine noise. Is it normal? Is it the tensioner? is it the valve lash? At this low of miles? Or something entirely worse? Thanks. Yes, I have searched, but I haven't found any posts that compare the two sounds.

 

On a related note, I just smogged the car today in California, and HydroCarbon PPM counts were higher than when the car was last smogged 6 months ago. Counting 13PPM (average 4, max 53) compared to 1PPM 6 months ago. CO2/CO/ and NO all stayed the same. Not sure if that helps narrow it down a little bit.

 

TCT noise will be there at idle, and if anything it goes away as revs increase only because you cant hear it over the engine.
As others have described it...card in bicycle spokes.

I would imagine you might be hearing the normal valve noises.

 

Hmm, okay then, I'll just do a valve lash adjustment this weekend, can't hurt.

 

that would eliminate one thing...

tct sounds like cards in bicycle spokes...

noisy valves sounds more like metal tapping each other...more direct.

that's the best i can describe.