Hi, good persons. I'm checking to see if this sounds normal to you guys. I don't recall this car clicking this much. The biggest clue seems to be that it happens after the car has run a while. I don't hear when the engine is cold.

Other details: The car has 157k on it. It's been leaking oil, but I've been told it's a lot of small leaks and not one big one, so not worth addressing. Somewhere in the back near the firewall, I'll see smoke after it's run a while. Probably unrelated, but I noticed my mechanic left out the transmission dip stick (I found it in the trough at the hood's edge.) Just had the air meter sensor replaced.

Thanks for your ears and expertise!

Update12-27-2018. My mechanic told me "It's in the engine," and the inference was that it's not worth diagnosing and fixing, so R.I.P, Maxima. I'm still curious what is is/was, though.

Does it still run?

I'd do an oil change with some heavier-weight oil and drive it til it dies. A replacement engine isn't terribly expensive.

Thanks, AZhitman -- Yes, it still runs, but it's my wife's commuting car, so we have to count on it. I guess I'll try to sell it to someone with mechanical skills. We've put a lot into maintaining this car, and I'm pretty disappointed it only made it to 157k. Eyeing accords now.