first off...99 a4q 1.8 5speed 110k.....had it for a few weeks and all seemed to be going well.....so i had to drive to hampton this weekend for a fishing trip..about a 2.5-3 hr ride......when about 10 minutes from where i need to be i get stuck in contruction traffic on a highway....supergay....anyways.....so im sitting in traffic and hear my engine now ticking....goes away and comes back as it pleases...super random...sometimes it will be on when i start the car...sometimes not sometimes it will randomly start and stop a few minutes later (i looked in the forums and couldnt find anyone with a ticking that came ad went as it pleased, if i missed it sorry)........also my clutch started squealing...again with the randomness but seems to be getting more and more frequent and usually once car is nice and warmed up....the clutch wa replaced like 30k ago (have reciept from guy who had it before me)...could it already be going bad? or could this be a tranny fluid issue....im planning on changing the oil this weekend and possible the tranny fluid as well...any help is super appreciated...thanks in advance......

--noob

 

When they did the clutch did the change the release bearing?

 

honestly i dont know....he bought the clutch himself (claims stage2) .... so all the reciept says is labor for clutch install....like $800 or something....

...also has GIAC chip.....forgot to mention that...

 

Does the ticking change with engine rpms? Also, does it tick only when the clutch is engaged or vice versa?

 

when it is ticking it quickens as the rpms go up.....same in 1,2,3,4,5 and reverse.....doesnt matter whether clutch is in or not....even just sitting there it ticks....but will randomly stop....then randomly turn back start...i did read another thread talking about listening to diff parts of the engine through a hose...i just read that tonight so havent tried that yet....

 

Does it sound like it could be an exhaust leak?

 

Maybe its a belt?

 

Have you noticed if when you accelerate it does not tick and when you are idle or lightly accelerating it does tick? If so it could be the wastegate valve on the turbo. I has this issue when I had my K03

 

its definetly coming from the engine....im not sure from where.....it doesnt sound like an exhaust leak

 

would a belt cause a random tick? i have no idea....