So I have a 1998 Imp w/ about 187k on it. It has a EJ22. Everytime I start the car it will make some ticking noise. Once it's warm up the noise is gone. Do you think it's time for an adjustment?

 

Thanks

i think that has adjustable valves and if so it's well past due for a valve adjustment. probably a good thing for it either way. my 1997 has a light tapping noise as well - at 135,000 it's due for a valve job as well.

 

the oil pump backing plate screws can often be loose, but i'm not sure if it can attribute to light tapping noise as well. resealing the oil pump is standard maintenance with timing belt changes, so plan on doing that with the next timing belt.

 

this engine is an interference engine and may need a timing belt job. even if one was done semi-recently the timing pulleys are nearing 200,000 miles and over 10 years old - at least one, maybe all are devoid of grease by now. it's very rare that i pull any this old that don't have at least one bad sounding pulley. once the pulley fails, the timing belt goes with it which means you'll have bent valves with an interference engine.

 

i would be much more worried about those pulleys (bent valves) than the ticking noise. you can find threads and pictures in here of folks that have had them fail. i would install one of the ebay kits that come with all the pulleys, tensioner, and belt for $200.

 

EJ engines can have piston slap, it's most prevalent on EJ25's. it is completely benign and doesn't cause any problems except it's annoying. piston slap causes a tapping sound at start up which gradually goes away or lessens as the engine warms up.