Popping/knocking sound at idle - LS LX

[prydey]

Hi guys, jumped in the wife's car the other day and realised i don't give it much attention. the wife is always whinging about strange noises and what not, but i generally ignore her .

so i took the opportunity to pop the bonnet and i noticed a slight knocking/popping sound coming from at the back near the exhaust manifold. didn't seem to do in when the revs were increased, but given that to increase the revs you have to use the pedal, i may have been too far away to hear. car has only done 63000km. we've only done about 4000 of those and it was serviced apparently just before i bought it although i will do it myself soon just to be sure. the sound could be slight backfiring/miss in the exhaust? it was a dull sound and i'm hoping its not something more serious like a bottem end type noise.

anyone had anything like this? obviously its difficult trying to describe a sound, and i can't really record it as you have to listen fairly closely to hear it.

it also has a squeak. i put some dressing on the belt but that didn't help. could be clutch. i'll have to see if it goes away when the clutch is pressed.

thanks in advance.