Background info:
1993 civic dx with 162000 miles. Stock everything.

If I apply medium to hard pressure on the gas, I hear a ticking noise. It sounds like it is coming from the engine bay. If I barely press the gas (ex. Cruising on the highway) or idle at a stop, I do not hear any ticking.

 

CV joints. You need a new boot or a whole new joint. Jack it up and see if there is greese comming from one of the joints. If not then its a little harder to figure out which one it is. Go for a drive and make a hard/medium turn and give it gas when you turn, if it clicks its that side, otherwise turn around and turn the other way and see. Which ever side it clicks/noise is comming from is the bad CV Joint.

 

Sounds like your motor is pinging. Is the ignition timing too advanced? Make sure it's set at 16 BTDC for a stock motor.

 

so if i make a left turn and makes a noise its the left side?

 

yes normally.

 

I agree with civic driver, sounds like timing. My 96 ek was making the same noise so I checked timing and found out that the timing was at about 20-25 btdc. Found out the timing belt needed replacement. You should get it checked out soon.

 

was yours happening constantly or only under med/hard acceleration?

and about the cv being the problem, now that i think about it I do think the noise is much louder during turning while accelerating. cruising is completely silent on the other hand. which makes me think its not the timing.

 

My problem was happening only under med to hard acceleration. Didn't matter what gear I was in either.