Uncle Fester

I've recently noticed a ticking sound coming from the engine. I know that the timing chain can be quite noisy when you first start an S2000, but this is happening even when the engine is at full operating temperature. It doesn't seem to be coming from the valvetrain; I can hear the valves and they seem to make more of a "chatter" sound than a ticking.

The sound can actually be better heard when you are behind the motor, like when you are just starting to get into the car on either side.

Here's my main part of the question. When cylinder #4 was about to fail, could you hear signs of this during the entire rev range? The reason I ask is because I can only hear this particular ticking sound at idle. I have the opportunity to drive next to some walls at various speeds and I can hear the engine sound being echoed back to me, but I can't hear the tick sound.

I have changed my oil religiously every 3000 miles using Mobil 1 10W-30, have always used K&N oil filters. Oil level is monitored constantly, I just checked it now.

The car sees no track time, some days go by and I don't even VTEC her. She doesn't get babied either though...

Any responses are much appreciated...

Strike

I can't tell you if you have the #4 problem but I can tell you that a lot of S2000's tick. I never noticed mine until one day at the track and, like you, I was concerned that it was the known #4 cylinder issue. Then we popped the hood on another couple of S2K's that were also there and found that they were all ticking just like mine. That was over a year ago and my engine hasn't gone kaput yet. I hope yours is just a regular noise and not the #4 problem.

Uncle Fester

Phew, that makes me feel a lot better. I'll just have to keep a close eye on it.