Very annoying ticking noise!!??

[roygarth]

....seems to be from left of engine as you look into bay, frequency varies with revs and seems to dissapear at 2/3K revs (could just be engine noise drowns it out) reminds me of Beetle timing chain/tappet sound?

Realise that online diagnosis tricky but any ideas?

Thanks
Piers

[clubsport]

As you say Piers, difficult to diagnose over the net!

As a first thought maybe it could be the hydraulic tappets, if these are not getting enough oil you can get a clicking noise, as revs rise and oil pressure builds this would sort this (temporarily).
If you haven't had one already a decent oil change of the correct grade could do the trick make sure they change BOTH oil filters, one I beleive looks after the tappet side of things.
Tappets can be changed fairly easily parts are about £25 each but labour on top will be more obviously.
However on the left hand side of the engine, the distributors sit maybe clicking from worn rotor arms or distributor caps ?
Sorry if not much help, but the above are more service solutions that you may be able to affect yourself, anything else may involve an engineer getting their hands dirty and you getting your wallet out!
Hope it works out to be something simple, please keep us informed.

[roygarth]

Thanks Paul, just spoke to Peter Tognola who also thinks it's probably tappets!

[roygarth]

Just went for 1 hour drive and it self-corrected. Stopped in at AFN Chiswick for a cake, coffee and a confirmation of our diagnosis....all very civilised - but £100/hour labour is very un-civilised IMHO!