2000 Jeep Wrangler A tapping or loud clicking Noise till en

It sounds like it is a tappet or lifter making the noise. They get weak after so many miles of running. They are hydraulic and get weak and do not hold oil pressure( sorta) like they should, so after the engine has run just a bit they "pump" up and quieten down. This is what it sounds like to me but clicking is really hard to determine without hearing it. Let me know what comes of this please! Thanks Curt

When I went back to the shop today they said it was a different tapping noise than the first, even though it does just the same as the first noise did, a minute or so after the engine starts running. It also sounds like the same noise as before to me, but they said it was different. They said this time it is my timing belt and that will run around $350.00. So the jeep is doing the same thing that it was doing that they said was the compressor drive clutch and drive belt pulley. Making a noise for a minute or so after starting the engine, but they say the noise is not the same noise. Would the compressor drive clutch and drive belt pulley going out, act and sound the same as a timing belt going out. Or am I getting the run around.I think I am getting taken. But gave up discussing it with them, cause they insist the noise is different, even though it is happening the same way as it was before, by always being there when I start a cold engine and going away within a minute or so. Just seems to me that these separate things would not be affecting the Jeep in the same way and it sure sounds the same to me.
SHH

Well, like I said earlier its really hard to diagnose a noise through the internet. Its hard to say if its the same noise since I havent heard it. I would take it to another shop and get their opinion. If you know a shop that you trust leave the vehicle overnight if possible so they can start it cold and hear the same noise. I would hate to see you spend more money and have the same result. Finding a trusting shop is hard to do. Let us know if you figure it out I would still say from the description you are looking at the valve train though? Curt

Jeep dealer mechanic thinks it could be lifters. Had me put some lucas oil additive in and drive a few hundred miles and see how it does. But thinks that if there is a problem that it would be lifters. Says hard to know since noise is so short termed, but sounded like it the little he heard it. As to the repair shop that replaced the other things that did not make a change in the sound.I am curious to if they could tell these things was bad or going bad by looking at them, or if they was pretty much making a guess and it probably was not something that needed fixing?