My Probe has a ticking noise located at the top left-rear side of the engine; near timing belt cover/left side of valve cover.
I changed the timing belt and idler pulleys and the noise didn’t go away.
The noise doesn’t show up immediately at a cold start-up ( as in valve clearance ) but a couple minutes later. Then after it is very warm it goes away. It will also go away if, during its noisey period, you ramp up the RPM’s above 2500.
Do fuel injectors make noises with age? Car has 180,000 miles.