Pinging in idle

I stopped at a stoplight and heard an unfamiliar pinging...
It seems like it is coming from the alternator.
It drives like a champ...(Maybe I shouldnt be driving?)

I was told it might be my valve sticking and the pushrod is just hitting it
Since it is not making noise when it drives the oil pressure is higher and it then moves the hydraulic valve....


IF it is my valve...
Take cover off and how do i find out which one it is... Do i have to change it can i just move it?

Now on my way home it was smoking a little bit...
I HAVE OIL
I HAVE ALL FLUIDS

What year and how many miles?

1990 SSE 131XXX

same dash lights as your pic

Could you possibly get a video of this?

It was cold, but you can hear the pinging, it is kind of hard to tell where its coming from.

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=2w2knx2&s=7

Could you possibly get a video of this?
it is possible that snow was under the hood possible burning off.

Check the harmonic balancer (crankshaft pulley). The pulley has a rubber damper that dries out and separates from the pulley causing excessive play and a noise very similar to the one in your video. Good Luck!

I completely agree... Check the Crank Harmonic Balancer... Like stated the rubber can crack and break... The outer part of the balancer sits on a bearing so it can move to a certain degree with the AC Compressor turning on and off, the balancer absorbs this shock so that you don't feel it... What you are most likely hearing is the balancer hitting the stops..

Check it out and see if the rubber is cracked up...

Its been a while since i been on here but exactly the problem....I don't know what I would have spent with this site but it would have been a lot more than 90 bucks