ENGINE Help please!!?

Question

hey i just test drove a used 1994 acura integra that has a swapped engine and there was a ticking noise coming from the engine. my friend said in might be a valve cap. anyone have any answers/ideas of what is causing the ticking noise? its a manual car if that helps

thanks

Answer 1

here is an interesting one.  does the ticking start up right as you stop?  Its the relief valve sending gasoline back to the tank because the engine is at an idle.

Answer 2

there are so many possabilities one of which is an exhaust leak . a tiny hole in one port area causes a sound similar to your description, does it increase with reving the engine when parked a bit? does the ticking quiet after driving a while?almost any moving part can make a tick, a spark arc can sound like a tick, valves not set correct tick,It just takes time and patience to locate and repair it.

Answer 3

run run run very fast.the car is junk and no better than junk.if the motor was swapped and the motor they put in it ticks its junk also.RUN RUN RUN.DO NOT BUY THE CAR.RUN

Answer 4

From the vague description, I would say it is making the noise because of a bad valve. With a "swapped" engine it would indicate the car had engine problems before and they just put one in to sell it. I would pass on this car.  

Answer 5

It's the valvetrain. Could be a lot of things. Could even be low oil pressure. Better have someone look at it before you buy. And not your friend who says it a valve cap, whatever that is.  

Answer 6

could be it needs a valve adjustment...or it could have an manifold exhaust leak...many times this is misconstrued to be a valve train tick