as title, should i be worried? what is it and how is it fixed?

it's a 1.4SX 1998

Thanks

Assuming its a fast ticking and you can hear it at idle (i'd describe it as a very fast ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka sound) then it sound to me like the tappets are worn.

If you use the search you will find lots of discussions about it, but its essentially cause when the top oil spray bar clogs, causing the camshafts to not get enough lube. It can cost up to a couple of hundred quid to fix at a garage who will replace the camshaft, possibly the followers, and hopefully the oil spray bar will either be cleaned or replaced.

With a 1.4 its very important that you keep right on top of the oil changes. The book says to do it every 12k, but i'd recommend that you either do a full service every 10k, or get internediate oil changes done every 6k. You can do this yourself for the price of a bottle of oil(£15) and a new oil filter (£5) Or you can go to budget/National and get them to do you their oil change service which costs £25. This will almost certainly stop the oil ever getting to the state where it can block the spray bar.

HTH

Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4 & now ex owner of a Bravo 1.8

It's a 9 year old car and the camshaft is probably worn. If the ticking sound is coming from the top of the engine eg. under the rocker cover, then that will probably be the problem. Sometimes, because of the hydraulic tappets, when the engine warms up, the ticking sound gets less or goes altogether.

It's an easy enough job to remove the rocker cover and the oil spray bar, soak it in petrol to clean it and re-assemble. Nine times out of ten you won't need a rocker cover gasket. They are made of rubber and are not under all that much pressure when fitted.

You will need a RIBE socket bit to remove the rocker cover bolts, size M7 I think.

That would give you peace of mind and you can decide if you need to take any action on the camshaft.