"That" ticking noise

[luckopig]

My van has developed that not uncharacteristic ticking noise from the engine end so not the clock . Until now it sometimes did it when cold but went away quickly. I have looked on the Wiki and done a search on here for some info. Have tried a run around for half hour or so and the oil is recent and topped up. Several posts suggest pretending it's not there, but I can't find one that says how to stop it. Any ideas? is it a diy job? If I get it done for me, any idea of the cost. It is a 1.9 DG petrol and until now has been soooooooo quiet

Thanks

[jed the spread]

usually goes after 10 0r so miles

jed

[jamesc76]

could be a sticking tappet also have a listen around the engine to see if you can hear where its coming from?

[sevy]

best bet its a lazt tappit i agree with james or it could be something catching a pully or alt belt , my bets on a tappit easy job ish and not expensive

[clartsonly]

I would say tappets, and leave them I reckon it will go away. after a long drive, mine come and go and sometimes sound more like a thumping noise.

[Dan Wood]

It is possible to strip the threads from the studs that hold the rocker assembly in, so that the rockers all come lose!

That makes a tapping noise that sounds exactly like a tappet would, but for a totally different reason.

It's a credit to these engines that I did 400 miles while "waiting for a tappet to fill up" before looking further for the cause and finding my rockers hanging off!

Might be a good idea to pop off your rocker covers and just check all is well.

[Mocki]

if your rockers aint fallin off, in a Dan wood kinda way, try changing the oil and filter. I know you said the oil was recent. But how recent?

[luckopig]

Thanks to all for your advice so far - unfortunately I have a disability that keeps me from looking under the van for the next few days - A JOB
But i'll get down there as soon as and will report my findings.
Thanks again all