There is a clicking sound from my driver side cat, I'm thinking there is either a tiny puncture or the shield around it is tapping. Would removing the shield to test the theory be a terrible idea and risk major damage to the cat?

 

that's normal - it's the heat shield expanding and contracting around the cat.

 

Are you sure? It's fairly audible especially when with barriers on the side of the car and it only is coming from the driver side

 

How in the world do you know it's the catalytic converter if it happens while driving?

 

You can hear the ticking while the car is stationary and running, it just increases in frequency of the ticks with applied throttle

 

Since there are no moving parts associated with the catalytic converter, the closest thing that could be making noise is the heat shield, if it is broken. It will vibrate more at certain frequencies (probably 3k rpms or so). Otherwise it's something nearby that just sounds like it's coming from that area.

Is it a rattle? A metal dinging? I'm just looking for more clues.

 

It's like a quick click or tick, I'd most liken it to the sound of a small puncture letting air puff out (though I hope that's not the case, I fear it is). I'll try to upload a recording of it

 

Are you sure its not your throw out bearing?

 

O_o my hoogiemacallit?

Haha sorry, so I Googled what that is and is that in automatic trans? Also, it is consistently ticking whether in park, idling, or moving and it increases in frequency with throttle application.

 

Ohh lol no auto trans do not have a throw out bearing, it could be your heat shield or it could be a million other things. I see you have a rev up z so I'd make sure your oil level was good then just take it to some one and let them figure it out. I think just assessments are like 50 bucks these days.

 

Funny you mention my oil level, it does appear to have a minor leak as I do have to add oil more often than I'd like. I thought that the oil consumption issue was just in the manual though? What would the association be here?

Thanks for all the advice so far btw!

 

Are you saying it could possibly be the oil leaking into the cat and burning off and that could be the ticking? How would I be able to test that if so?

 

Id think if your oil was low, depending on how low, the valves could be tapping and that could very likely be the source of the sound. Id top the oil off let her run at idol and see if it quites up at all. I doubt oil leaking on the cat is causing tapping because the noise increase with revs. also run the car with the hood up and listen to the noise see if you can pin point it better.