I have a 2009 Sport, manual transmission. 136K miles.
A ticking sound just recently started. As best I can tell it is coming from the top of the engine.
It does not matter if engine is hot or cold. It is a steady, but irregular ticking. It does track with engine speed.
I've attached a video. I attached it in two formats in case there are problems playing one of them.
The video is not very informative, but hopefully the audio will be usefull.
Any ideas what this could be?

 

You may have caught a loose plug before it ejects or cooks a coil. If it could be coming from the plug/coil area, snug your plugs.

 

Valve adjustment was due at 90k miles. If it's not been done, get a set of spark plugs and do the valve adjustment very soon. The ticking could either be a loose spark plug (which will eject itself and cause damage if not done) or out of spec valve clearance (which can cause damage to the valve seats).

 

Thank you GAFIT and Erbid for your feedback. Very helpful.

 

A follow-up to my post-
I had the valves checked. They did need adjusting. Saw a noticable improvement in MPG after valves were adjusted.

The ticking sound was not the valves, not a loose plug. It is actually from the serpentine belt idler pully bearings- dry bearings. Easily diagnosed using stethascope.

 

Thanks for the follow up!

 

@jmforem Thanks for following up.

@GAFIT Ticking from a loose spark plug? I have to scratch my head on this diagnosis. I suppose that it is possible, right before the plug blows out entirely. All due respect, of course. You know I'm one of your fans, GAFIT.

 

Ticking may not be the best way to describe it, but just before it blows you can hear the exhaust blowing past the plug. My friend said his car started "ticking" and then lost power when it ejected a plug at highway speeds.