sorry, i thought i would start a new thread because i feel as tho its really rude to thread jack eric93se's thread. anyways the noise i'm talking about is sorta like a grinding noise. i know for sure that its not the VTC because its not a ticking noise. and also.. once the car is warmed up the noise is gone. I know its coming from the front left bank of the head. i was also suggested that it was a manifold stud problem, but if it were a exhaust manifold stud problem. wouldn't it continuously be noisy when i rev the car even after the car has warmed up? thanks Alden

 

Once the car heats up, the manifold can expand enough to seal the leak. Over time it will start making the noise even when it's warmed up if it really is a broken stud or 3.

 

would the noise travel up to the top of the valve cover ?

 

It comes from right next to it, so it could sound that way. If you put your ear over it and blip the throttle by hand, you should be able to hear putting/escaping exhaust. This is all assuming that it really is teh studs and not something else.

 

could there be anything else wrong with the car? i'm just trying to pin point the problem. thanks

 

Yeah there could be a possibility of hundreds of things being wrong. It is almost impossible to diagnose a noise over the internet. One person may interpret the noise differently than another.

 

take a long screwdriver or prybar and place the tip on different areas of the motor (valve covers, heads, block, oil pan, etc) while running, and press your ear on the handle and try to track the noise/type of noise more specifically that way