it mite be the exhaust some of them tick when there hot.
If it makes the ticking sound and the engine will not crank, then either your battery is dead or the starter solenoid is shot.
Waht is the answer?
The cool water hitting your piping hot exhaust makes the metal contract (Shrink) and it makes a ticking noise.
Normally loose tappets will cause a ticking sound in the engine. Depending on if you have mechanical or hydraulic tappets you may need to have them replaced or simply adjusted.
Faulty engine
You have an old car or it's about to be broken.
It can be a hole in your exhaust system or it can have something to do with your engine.
A sound at 15 decibels is not very load. It is equivalent to the sound that watch makes when ticking.
Its possible that this ticking sound is caused from driving fast for prolong periods. Its possible that its not the engine that is making the sound, but the exhaust system somewhere. I hear a ticking sound if I drive over 140KMh for long periods. It always stops once the car cools. I hopes this helps.
The tinking sound if it is a light sound is probably the fuel injectors working which is normal but I would check the oil level and make sure it is full first it could be lifters ticking or clattering.
Not enough power to starter motor.
There is no specific word for a car engine's sound.Someone might say their car, when the engine was operating smoothly, purred or was purring.Or, when the driver accelerates without moving: He revvedhis engine.When the engine makes abnormal sounds, the type of sound is described: the engine was ticking, knocking, sputtering, straining, etc.