Clicking/Ticking on higher RPMs

[commodorehat]

I have a 98 pathfinder SE, and recently my car has been making a loud rapid clicking sound (almost like crickets) coming from the engine when I accelerate above 2000 to 2500 RPMs.  The car runs fine still, same power and smooth ride.  No engine lights.  Recently I have been bumping around offroad, so maybe something got loose?  Another interesting detail is when I pull the accelerator cable on the engine block I don't hear it.  Only when I accelerate with the gas pedal.  All my belts are new.  I'm planning on doing some work to try to find the issue and was wondering what things I should look at.  

[BCangler99]

It sounds like it could be a lifter

[commodorehat]

Thanks for the tip.  I'll add it to the list.  The linkage to high rpm is interesting to me. A couple of other things that are suspicious are my heat shields are pretty rusted and loose, and my knock sensor has thrown me codes in the past.

[commodorehat]

Pulled the heat shieldw and the noise stopped.  Now to figure out how to secure them without the rattle.

[BCangler99]

That's great news! I also had similar rattling noises caused by all of the rusted loose heat shields that were dangling on the pipe a few months ago. I removed them  

[commodorehat]

Thanks, Yeah drivers side was salvageable with hose clamps. The passenger side had a a big chunk completely rusted off so I removed them. So far so good. I might replace with a set from the junk yard one of these days