Just to update....the problem was the lower intake manifold gasket....got it fixed....$620. As for the check engine lignt....I think it may have been leaking a bit in the air intake....causing one of the cilynders to missfire..I never got it checked but the light went off (even before I got it fixed) and never came back on.

so LIMG causes ticking noises? lol

I guess. lol Mine never made a ticking noise.... Come to think of it, my engine does make a small ticking noise (not sure if it still does) but I did some looking around one day and I beleive it was just some tag or something on one of the belts....