Cam phaser instructions
Camping enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 145
Likes: 17
From: SE Michigan
Could be one of your exhaust manifolds. They make a ticking sound when they develop a crack that is typically louder on the passenger side by the wheel well, seems to be the passenger side from what I've found. Definitely worth checking into because it's much easier, and less expensive
Like you mentioned the sound is similar to a phaser noise. Often I think it's misdiagnosed.