Thanks, definitely will try it. Could it be just that the heat shield itself is loose? I've got a nice little to-do list for the weekend now. I appreciate your help!

 

Could be loose but that may be a more of a 'clang' than a 'click'. It sounds more solid. You can do a visual inspection of the rockers if you remove the valve cover. Held together by just 6 10mm's

 

Just a thought, but a long time ago (72 Datsun) I had a leaking exhaust-manifold gasket that strangely didn't sound like an exhaust leak. It sounded a bit like someone tapping a hammer on a block of metal.

 

I'm bringing it to a mechanic next Friday to have the EGR ports/valve cleaned and the valves adjusted. Neither have ever been done, so I figured even if it's not the cause of the noise I might as well have them done. I'll ask him to look at the exhaust gasket too. Thanks !

 

My valves need adjusted too. It doesn't quite sound like yours but it ticks and the ticking increases with RPMs. The dealership wants like 300 to do a valve lash adjustment. I would rather let a dealership do it instead of a local in fear that they could screw it up

 

Did you end up getting it done, Slipkanot?

 

Well I'm getting it done next Saturday. I found a guy I went to school with the works on Hondas and knows exactly what to do. He has all the tools and is coming to my apartment to work on it as it has to be stone cold to do a valve lash adjustment. He is charging me 100 bucks

 

I also get about 22 miles to the gallon highway which really blows. I'm not sure why its so bad but I hope this adjustment will help

 

Nice! That's an awesome deal. Let me know how it goes. I still need to get mine done, but I'm trying to find someone to do it. Don't want to pay the dealership a few hundred for it, and the guy who was supposed to just stopped responding to my emails

 

I'm sorry it's been a few months since I posted back. My adjustment went ok. I'm very happy now that it's over. In the process I had to dick with oreillys getting the wrong parts. I bought new plugs. When it was all said and done the car sounded better, there is definitely a bit more
power at launch and economy didn't change much