I've recently purchased a 2001 Civic with 126,000kms on it, for $4000. When I bought it there were a few things wrong with it, but at the price, I decided to fix them would be worth it. So the minor things were fixed, but there's this constant ticking noise that increases in loudness the higher the RPMs on the engine. It only occurs when the engine is in normal operating temperature also. I've had several opinions claiming it to be a timing belt, or alternator belt. The AC compressor and Alternator, (so I've been told) work on the same belt, and my A/C compressor has given out. This ticking noise is hard to describe, kinda sounds like "zzzzzzzih". Everything else runs perfectly nonetheless.Car is Manual/Standard Transmission.Noise has been persistent for at least a year from previous owner's knowledge. All fluid levels, are topped up; all belts (aside from timing belt) have been tightened. Very good chance the noise is from the timing belt.