Re: Re: Re: Strange engine noise
Could be the injectors. Does the noise does not occur straight away from cold, and you can hear it under light throttle (over this the induction/exhaust noise will mask), and only hear it from the drivers seat?
One way to be absolutely sure is to take the revs up to about 2000rpm, then take you foot completely off the accelerator pedal. As the engine speed drops down you will hear the injectors suddenly ticking at about 1100rpm (5cylinder - not sure for the 4's), this is the ECU going from Fuel cut off (ie no driver request input), to Fuel cut recovery (I.e required fueling to catch idle and stop engine stalling).
If the noise only occurs when you do this, and is quite when you first lift off (ie go into fuel cut), then it is most likely that the injectors are noisy. I'd guess your mileage is around 60 -65000 miles plus???
Mine have been doing this for 20,000 miles, and injector cleaner quitens them for a few weeks before the noise comes back (before you ask, I use Shell mostly, or other decent brand fuel such as Texaco occasionally...).
Hope this helps.
Of course if the ticking occurs all the time, and is engine speed related then this is not the problem.... so please follow the wise words of the others...