Cauld this have caused my tick

[Gemmer]

ok, my car, like most DOHC's, had a slight tick on cold start, that went away after 5 minutes of warming up or so...

Well not too long ago, some water got in one of my spark plug chambers, so I pulled the boots and plugs, pushed a rag down each chamber and pulled it back out to get as much of it as I could, then let the car sit for 24 hours. (I had discovered the water the day before, but I had to work and couldn't do anything about it)

So the next day I reinstalled the plugs, plugged back in the battery, and just then my pops decides to come outside and asks how shes running...I give him the keys and ask him to START the car while I go to the back and listen for a miss

He start the car (which hasn't been started in almost 2 days) than instantly revs directly to the rev limiter, where he start yelling "You have a miss!"

I kicked him outa the car and saw my idle was going crazy (no learn done) I shut it off quickly...

long story short, he doesn't touch my car now, and from that day fourth my lifter tick is very loud, happens on every start, and doesn't go away ever.

You think he could be the cause?

[Lyle's GTP]

Yep, that will do it. I think 4-5 people shouldn't be allowed near a vehical let alone drive one or work on one.

Lyle

[Juglenaut]

I would take a look at the cylinder heads if the tick is as bad as you say. A number of things could be wrong but I can only guess like weak springs, worn valve seats, out of tolerance stem to guide clearence, worn lifter(s). GM has a solution to the tick at cold start, but your ticks loudly all the time the heads may need attention I am not certain though. My GTP 3.4L has some valve train noise when it at normal temp even after I replaced all the valves and lifters, my springs were all in spec. and the seats looked like new. I have pictures of one of the heads partially rebuilt.