Hi all,

I'm trying to diagnose a problem with my girlfriend's Ka. It has developed a ticking noise from under the bonnet, which is loud enough not to be normal.

It sounded similar to a blown exhaust manifold gasket, and with a whiff of exhaust under the bonnet I thought this is what is was, so I replaced it. However, the noise remains. It's there on tickover, and when accelerating, but not when coasting, which suggests to me it's still exhaust related... but I'm baffled.

The other option is the tappets - is it a difficult job to adjust the tappets? I've never done it before and I'm no mechanic, but I get by.

Can anyone help suggest what might be causing it before she spends a fortune at a garage?

(The car is a 52 plate Endura with under 30k miles on it.)

Many thanks
Jim