Rattle buzz

[m3f_sameguy]

So when my car is idling there is this nasty rattle buzzing type sound emenating from underneath. When the engine is revved, it stops. Hard to pinpoint precicely where it is coming from, buy drivers side rear seems to be loudest. Anyone know what it is, and what it's gonna take to fix?

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

Its most likly your heatshileds on your cats. After aging, they seperate and cause a rattle at lower rpms/idle. You can either do two things to fix this:



1) Remove them.

2) Jamb a screw inbetween them and the cats to tighten them up. (Which is what I did).

[m3f_sameguy]

Is either a simple proceedure, or am I looking at removing exhaust components etc. I'm guessing that heat shields will between the cats and the car right? If removed, am I asking for trouble from the heat they give off?

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

Is either a simple proceedure, or am I looking at removing exhaust components etc. I'm guessing that heat shields will between the cats and the car right? If removed, am I asking for trouble from the heat they give off?



I asked that same heat question to a tech at work and he repled with "Are you going to be parking in any piles of leaves".... right... he showed me the screw trick because it made me nervous when he said that.. so I was able to keep them on...



They are between the car and the cat, they surround the entire cat. You don't have to remove anything to do either fix. Just gotta cut them off to remove them.



Edit: When you're using a screw... do not screw into the actual cat... make no holes. What he did was take a large, agressive screw, and put it between the sheild and the cat, but not INTO the cat... if need be, I could get pics.

[m3f_sameguy]

Makes sence to me, I've got to do my rear brakes this weekend, so I'll hit the heatshield prob while I've got the car on stands. Thanks for your help Sirus, much appreciated.

[m3f_num3owner]

I asked that same heat question to a tech at work and he repled with "Are you going to be parking in any piles of leaves".... right... he showed me the screw trick because it made me nervous when he said that.. so I was able to keep them on...



They are between the car and the cat, they surround the entire cat. You don't have to remove anything to do either fix. Just gotta cut them off to remove them.



Edit: When you're using a screw... do not screw into the actual cat... make no holes. What he did was take a large, agressive screw, and put it between the sheild and the cat, but not INTO the cat... if need be, I could get pics.

can you provide some pictures...i've got quite an annoying rattle myself...its embarassing when rolling through a parking lot!!

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

can you provide some pictures...i've got quite an annoying rattle myself...its embarassing when rolling through a parking lot!!



Yeah, next time my cars on a lift I'll get some. I gotta change my oil anyhow. I would do it now in my driveway, but its all covered with water... :P

[m3f_num3owner]

damn rain making the ground wet...lets just hope this is my problem...i have read elsewhere on this forum that it could be the inside of the pipe...some sort of honey comb material...only fix being new exhaust...

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

damn rain making the ground wet...lets just hope this is my problem...i have read elsewhere on this forum that it could be the inside of the pipe...some sort of honey comb material...only fix being new exhaust...



Yes, that is another possibility, but the first thing to ususally seperate is that outer shield. So its best to check that first.

[m3f_num3owner]

lets hope!!

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

Well, I found a dry patch on my driveway and crawled under my car... right when I was done it started to rain again lol.



Anyways, you can see the screw and how its installed, I wish I had a better angle, but it was kinda cramped under there and I was using my jack from my trunk, so I didn't want to be under there too long. :P

[m3f_num3owner]

thanks sirius...hope you didn't get to wet...i will check it out...i guess i can just have my car running a see if that is where the noise is coming from...

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

thanks sirius...hope you didn't get to wet...i will check it out...i guess i can just have my car running a see if that is where the noise is coming from...



I used a towel...



If you can get under the car, you can tap the shield and it will move about if it has come loose. Normally, they are nice and tight. My guess is that over time, wear and heat causes that foam looking crap under there to degrage and come apart, cauing the shield to become loose.

[m3f_iransbest]

I used a towel...



If you can get under the car, you can tap the shield and it will move about if it has come loose. Normally, they are nice and tight. My guess is that over time, wear and heat causes that foam looking crap under there to degrage and come apart, cauing the shield to become loose.

Is this noise sorta like the clunking of a horse's hooves? Can't think of another similar noise. The sound is a hollow rattle? Can you also feel the noise? Do you feel the tapping under your seat or anything? :help:

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

Its more of a rattle. Itll disappear if you rev the engine up it seems. I was able to feel mine. If you leave your door open, it'll sound like its comming from the area where your tranny is.