So after 4 weeks of taking stuff apart and puting it back together I have pinpointed the problem. I noticed that every time I opened th trunk then shut it again the ticking noise stoped for a while than would start again. So I opened the trunk and rotated the pass side hatch strut counter clockwise and the sound went away so I put some foam padding where the hatch strut sits when closed and that seems to be working pretty good.

 

Too funny, I had the same ticking/pop when I closed the hatch, and narrowed it down to the pass side hatch strut, twisted it and it goes away. Will come back over time, just rotate it and it stops .... damn cars lol

 

thanks alot .. that ticking sound drives me nut sometime .. now i have to deal with the rattle sound that comes from the dash board. yeah .. damn cars