I recently replaced my alternator in my 2001 Camry. As soon as I finished putting in the part and driving my vehicle, I heard a fast ticking/clicking noise coming from under the hood. I hear it more so when the vehicle is colder, with the noise reducing the longer I have the car running. I checked the tension on the belt and the pulleys, and both of those seem fine.

As a side note, I do have to change out my EGR valve, and part of my exhaust system needs to be repaired.

So my questions are:

Could my alternator be faulty because I didn’t hear this ticking sound before I changed my alternator?

Could what I’m hearing actually be my exhaust sense I stop hearing the sound for the most part when I let my foot off the gas or hit the brake?

Or could this be my EGR valve that is causing this ticking sound?