I have a thermostat-equipped propane heater in my cabin, and I can always tell when it cycles off because the burner makes a ticking sound. The heater has no moving parts, so my conclusion is that the only source of the sound could be the metal of the burner as it cools down. I’ve also noticed — as you might have — that a sheet-metal roof makes clicking and snapping sounds as it cools after a hot day. You might hear the same ticking sound when you stop your car and turn it off, and because it’s the same phenomenon, it’s usually no cause for concern. However, that isn’t the only type of ticking sound a car can make, and the ones it makes while you’re driving aren’t so benign. With the help of repair shop manager and automotive software developer Jon Vorisek, we’ll explain what these sounds might mean. What Causes the Ticking? The most common cause of ticking sounds is simple, says Vorisek: “Everything heats up while you’re driving, and when you stop, everything cools down.…