I just noticed 2 days ago that when I start my car it has some kinda ticking noise coming from the motor or somewhere up there? I have no idea what the hell it is and since I'm a girl I NEED assistance!! I have 42,000 miles, up to date with maint., and I can't tell a diff. in the way it drives or anything else.:banghead:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1XIm6q4r4

Post a video or recording.

BTW, don't pull the "I'm a girl' thing; Just ask for help!

Could be several solenoids and valves that perform a self-test when the ignition is first turned on.
Also, check the spark plug wires, at the plugs and at the coils. Could be a spark jumping the gaps.

The ticking stays on after the car is running and sounds like a lifter noise on a regular engine. Could bad gas make this happen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiI7-iXQj48
tat is wat a bad connection at the spark plug sounds like.

So if the spark plug wire is loose it'll make that noise??

if anything from the wire to the sparkplug to the spark plug not properly tighten/loose, you will hear arcing sound.

Correct.
Just grab the spark plug wire boots and give it a twist while pushing in and see if you still hear that sound afterwards.

I found the problem!!! It was the plug wire, it was almost off. I also want to know is it common for them to get that loose? This "dumb" girl fixed something!!:rock:

Good job!
Yeah... they have been known to come loose.

If the wires are properly snapped onto the plugs (you can feel it snap), they should not come off--ever. Well, almost never.:)

From what I've read here, the lower front plug wire is known to come off.

well, that's the one that was almost off... gotta change em out anyway so maybe that'll be the end of all this???

Well I'm glad someone posted this thread, because I've had this issue since I bought the car a year ago (48k at purchase, 67k now)!

What do I need to do to check my plugs? Does this require taking off the front driver side wheel, or can I check it from the hood?

What do I need to do to check my plugs? Does this require taking off the front driver side wheel, or can I check it from the hood?

The plug wires can be checked through the hood if you have long skinny arms.
I just lay on the ground and reach up from underneath.

To check/remove the spark plugs themselves, refer to this DIY:
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=145045&highlight=spark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiI7-iXQj48
tat is wat a bad connection at the spark plug sounds like.


thats exactly what mine sounds like...

I took mine to Firestone where my old roommate works, threw it on the lift and checked the wires...everything was snug...

you mentioned in your video that the plug wasnt torqued down enough...did re-torquing it fix the problem?

Yee Haw! Queen of Mean can be my mechanic any day!

NICE JOB!, now go and link this to every "ticking noise" thread out there...this is EXACTLY what i tell people and they dont wanna believe me

That might be due to the fact that I changed my coils spark plugs and spark plug wires and I got, never had, this "ticking noise". I also just went down to my car, removed all the spark plug wires and reinstalled them. Start the car up and its still ticking like timex lol