I have a 1993 4DR DX 5 speed manual. I've noticed this for a while and wanted to make sure it was normal. This sound occurs while the engine is winding down during the shift.
At first I thought it was valve tapping noise but I get the same exact noise when I press down hard on the gas at too high of a gear (and low revs) for the speed and acceleration.

Could anyone explain why this might happen? I'm more curious than anything. If it's a problem, I'd definitely like to have it checked out.

thanks!

 

could be a broken motor mount.... Heck, it could be a million things. Its hard to diagnose problems like this without actually driving the car. :/ (But I still suggest checking your mounts and making sure one of them isn't rusted and broken)

 

Let me clarify... I don't mean a sound like a "clunk"... I mean engine knock or ping.

 

Just wanted to follow up on this even though it's really old.

The tick/pinging noise I kept hearing I believe was from a worn timing belt. On my way from LA back to the Bay Area, my timing belt snapped and I was stranded near Bakersfield for a couple days to get it fixed.

Miraculously, there was no valve damage, to my surprise and the mechanic's. It's been over a year since that happened and no issues yet. Also, after the timing belt was replaced (and nothing else), the sound disappeared. I think the engine was firing with bad timing or something.