i have a 1999 audi a4 1.8t that lightly ticks before the car is warm, and not when idling, but when accelerating, then when the car is warm, it runs fine. any ideas?

 

It might be the camshaft that ticks until the oil gets warmer or the N80 purge valve. The purge valve is located on the air filter, it's a small cylinder thing with one hose going inside and another going from the valve to the throttle body.

 

how would i be able to tell if its the purge valve?

 

Find it first and then listen carefully. There is some kind of tool that helps you identify the source of the sound by getting louder as you get closer, just like that thing the doctor uses to listen for heart beats. If it's the purge valve the ticking means that is working correctly.

 

its def not that, i was suggested that it could be a check valve? keep in mind it gets lighter n lighter as the car warms up, until i cant hear it at all.

 

It's called a stethoscope if you're looking to get one, got mine for like 6 bucks. But you can improvise one as well