[Ahab]

05 2.0 duratec
Hey guys, my car developed a ticking noise it sounds like it is coming from top end passenger side of the engine. It is there at idle and you can still hear it till about 3k to 4k RPM than it either goes away or engine noise downs it out.
I do not thing that it is the intake tumble flaps sounds more like it is coming from top end of the engine.
Engine has about 180k miles on it.

 

[sailor]

Even an "educated ear" can be fooled at times, if you can't narrow it down more a mechanic's stethoscope is cheap - or some swear by a long screwdriver with a hand cupped to the ear....

Anything off that end of the engine could be involved, don't want to just list everything there as a possibility.

 

[plex07st]

Try disconnecting the vacuum hose at the intake manifold while engine is running. If ticking goes away, it's the tumble flaps.