Hello! About a year ago I replaced the starter on my car with a remanufactured unit from Advance Auto Parts. About 6 months ago I started noticing some pinging from my car, and started running a few tanks with Redline fuel cleaner. Also tried switching fuel brands.

One day I noticed two things: I was hearing the starter more during starts, and the pinging/ticking sound got more aggressive. Symptoms:

1. On any kind of acceleration over 5% throttle I would hear an aggressive ping/ticking sound. Soon as I lifted throttle I wouldn't hear it.

2. Would not do it at idle (initially).

3. Would not do it on braking.

Had the vehicle to an exhaust shop, Fever Racing, and my mechanic and no one could track it down (and had trouble replicating it on a lift)

Few months pass and one day I park the car, at idle, on an inclined drive way. Now I can hear the noise at idle.

Also noticed that I could hear the noise for a second if the car rolled backwards, and I hit the brake pedal. (only while the engine was running)

The issue got to the point that, when I had it on ramps in my garage, it would do it at idle. (incline again)

The problem was:

The spring in the starter had slowly been failing, allowing the starter gear to rub against the flywheel. It would do this on accel, and on an incline, because of gravity/inertia.

Replaced the starter, no more obnoxious noise.

Wanted to post here just in case this gremlin found its way to someone elses car.

sounded like this:

 

Interesting.. I hear something similar on mine but only under hard acceleration... It almost sounds like tiny pebbles in a can.

 

Wow, what a weird issue. Hats off to you for figuring that out