Took my little girl to school, 30mph limit just crusied up, so excessive revs and never broke 20mph. temp gauge hadnt moved - dropped off my girl at the school then drove from the school to my parents (maybe a mile). Pulled into the driveway stopped got out - engine still running - to open the gates. Heard a weird ticking/cracking noise - lasted about 20 seconds then stopped. Sounded a bit like something caught in something. popped the bonnet and had a look - couldnt see/find anything.

Could be just about anything really. Dual Mass Flywheel clicking off the end stops. A bit of grit on the V belt, hydraulic valve lifter stuck (tappet noise), air con driven pulley clutch about to give up, broken piston ring.

Midget with a whip

You can sometimes get a ticking noise as the different components in your engine bay heat up/cool down.

You quite often get when there have been big temperature changes like general driving in cold weather or after being out for a hard drive in normal weather.

mine makes a similer noise and its because my aircon compressor is screwed.

You can sometimes get a ticking noise as the different components in your engine bay heat up/cool down.

You quite often get when there have been big temperature changes like general driving in cold weather or after being out for a hard drive in normal weather.

If it's the same noise I've experienced, I'd go along with the above.

Mine sounds a bit like someone dropping frozen peas on to an upturned

baking tray (best description I can think of:O) Mine comes from front of engine

bay and I've always put it down to radiator heating/cooling.