I hope someone can help, I'm at a loss. Over the past couple of days my 2003 1.9 TDi Octavia has developed a very loud ticking noise coming from the drivers side of the engine. The sound gets a lot worse when I put my foot on the accelerator and once I've done a few miles it continues when the engine is running at idle. If I let the car sit for a good while and then let the engine run there is no sound, but it does come back one I accelerate. The tick, which is very loud, has a regular rhythm to it and does seem to go once I get up to 20+ revs. I've had the belts changed about one year ago and they look to be in good nick. Any pointers on what to check, listen or look for? It's doing my head in!

Could be an exhaust leak, ticking stops when it's heated up and the metal's expanded? Just a guess

freewheel on the alternator maybe.

Does your car have air-con, does it make any difference if it is turned on or off? Could be the aircon clutch.

freewheel on the alternator maybe.

Does your car have air-con, does it make any difference if it is turned on or off? Could be the aircon clutch.

My mind was thinking about the alternator sprague clutch breaking down or the a/c clutch bolt starting to undo itself as well.

I'm going with mbames on this one, alternator pulley.

Had the alternator pulley changed- seems to have done the trick, sounds like a different car now.

Excellent Hopefully it sounds like a nice quiet car rather than just a different one

Aye it's quiet, all I need to do is stop driving with the window down waiting to hear that annoying tick again!