[Eskareon]

I apologize ahead of time for any vague and ambiguous descriptions.

As said, 1992 Park Avenue with 164K miles. I pulled up to a friend's apartment and was waiting for them to come down. When they approached my car, they made a funny face at the hood. When I turned my music down, I heard an audible "ticking" sound... but ticking I would think is too quick. Perhaps like a marble or something is rolling around in a metal container? But on intervals... RIGHT. Anyhow, this noise started while I was sitting there waiting because I didn't hear it when I left home or on the way there (my music really wasn't that loud).

I did notice, however, that the noise is predominantely audible when I'm idling. If I apply a little gas, to about 2000 or so RPM, the noise fades away. Also, the car doesn't feel like it is struggling to drive or anything, it drives just normal minus the clack/tick sound. It -seems- to be coming from the engine block but I cannot be sure.

A little history: for awhile now I've had problems shifting into Park from most drives, and it is impossible if I am in reverse. I'll have to first shift into Drive / Neutral and then work it gently into park. I noticed when i go in reverse that there is a definite ticktickticktick sound and I can feel it vibrating in the steering column. If I shift into neutral while reversing, the ticking stops altogether. I don't know if this has anything to do with my engine noise. Also, the Change Oil light just came on about 3 days ago.

So, to sum up: Ticking/Clack/Rock sound that is audible when idling but fades away when the engine revs to 2000+ rpm. The car feels normal while driving. The noise came when I was sitting idle, engine was running. Right now the car is just sitting in a visitor spot at the apartment complex because I'm afraid of driving it >_<

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.