when i turn on my car it starts ticking and continues to tick while i'm driving. What could it be?

Question

i have a 99 gran prix

Answer 1

could be a bad lifter, low oil, or an exhaust leak on the header pipe.

Answer 2

If it's inside the car, turn the heater fan off. Sometimes the brushes will make a noise or else debris is on the fan cage. In the engine compartment, a bad serpentine belt could do it. Are you just hearing the injectors? You can put a big screwdriver tip on the valve cover and your ear against the handle to see if the valve train or lifters are noisy.

Answer 3

Could be a warn CV joint. Usually when they go bad they click while turning and become quiet when you go straight again.

Answer 4

does it change rate? If not, prob electrical-indicators/hazzard relay, or maybe a seat belt warning light (disconnected?) relay. Or it could be something (wrong?) with your stereo?

Answer 5

could be lifters....

Answer 6

First thing to check is your oil level.

Answer 7

If you rev the engine does it increase in frequency? If it does, more likely than not, it's engine knock. If it is just a minor click while the engine is running, then the engine could last for years. If it's fairly loud then the engine is on it's last legs and probably won't go far.

If you will, please give more information on the noise and how it started.

Answer 8

Is your blinker on?

Answer 9

valve lifters not getting enough oil or probably going out

Answer 10

You could have a bomb attached to the bottom of your car that's just waiting for it to get hot enough to go off!

... or it's likely something connected to your main fan belt making the noise, like a pulley, alternator or even a loose battery cable. Have a mechanic check your fan belt out and everything that's attached to it... that's likely the real source of the noise.