Chrysler Repair: 99 Chrysler Sebring Jxi makes a ticking sound, chrysler sebring jxi, chrysler sebring

Question
I went out of town for a week and thought I could trust my little sister to bring me to the airport and take care of my car.  I got home and now I am hearing a ticking noise.  It has 130,000 miles on it. I am assuming she was probably dogging it out.  Because when I was picked up by her the night I came back, her friend said now she wants to be a Nascar driver.  I don't know what to do.  I have no means of fixing it if something goes wrong, my dad knows a little about cars..I can try to get his help.  But I really want to know if she caused this, or it's just coincidence. It's not a very loud noise and it's driving the same..but it's a steady ticking.  Please help me.

Answer
Hi Bianca,
Open the hood and listen for the sound when it is idling. Can you localize where the sound is coming from? Use a piece of rubber hose, placing one end in your ear and use the other end as a probe to help locate the source. I assume that it is coming from the engine, but if it only makes the sound when you are moving forward can you tell if its coming from the front or rear of the car, and from the left or right side? If it comes from the engine is the ticking rate proportional to the engine rpm? If it isn't coming from the engine is it proportional to the speed? Does it make the same sound whether you are accelerating or slowing down, or turning to the left or the right or using the brakes? These are the sorts of clues I would need to help.
Maybe a shop will take a listen to it and give you a free opinion and repair estimate? Let me know any answers to my questions and also if you get a mechanic to listen to it let me know what he said. Let me know which engine you have as well.
Roland