When I start the car when it's cold, I am getting a metal clanging when I put the car into gear and start driving. It stops when the engine vibrations are reduced when it warms up. But if I leave it in 2nd and start from a rolling stop, I hear the clanging again.

It sounds like a loose metal plate under the car near the engine. Is this a heat shield problem? Where should I look...inside the hood, or under the car, under the plastic under-panel?

With a rattley hatch, I really don't need a rattle in the engine bay too!?

Ideas?

 

I had a problem similar, but it was the flange on the cat hitting the torque tube. Try tightening the exhaust hanger bolts.

 

Yup, I've got a similar situation. There are some heat shield plates under the exhaust manifold (to protect the engine mount), but this is probably an exhaust rattle. I'm pretty sure mine is either hitting a heat shield or the torque tube. I was able to confirm this in my case by getting under the car and wiggling the exhaust. Careful, not when it's hot!

Now to get back down there and work on the hangers...

-David

 

Check the cat heat shield - it's held in place by two small, rather cheesy bolts (8mm IIRC). If even one of 'em gets loose you'll get the rattling you describe. Replacement bolts are about 20 cents each at Home Despot.

 

A .20 cent bolt sounds like a deal to me at this point! And I wouldnt wanna pay a mechanic half an hour labor ($40) to fix such a simple thing. Guess I should get a set of ramps? Or do I need jack stands?

 

I think it's also the cat heat shield - at least that's what was making the same sound under my car before I had my mechanics rip it off! (I just don't park over dried leaves.... )

-Z.

 

Is the cat heat shield right under the passenger seat, location wise?

 

good guess - you got it. It may be under the passenger's feet - but close enough - you get a gold star!

 

Ha! That's where the noise sounds like it's originating from. We might be onto something here!

If I had the truck in your avatar, I wouldn't need a jack to fix my problem!

 

I can actually park with the front bumper of the car up against the tires of the truck without anything else touching - it's up there. It's great being able to sit up under your car to work on it.

 

Ive got a similar rattle upfront. I havent had a chance to check for its cause though.k Its usually present if i rev the car in neutral, and if i leave the car in gear and let the revs drop from around the 3500 through 2000rpms range you can hear the rattling sound.

 

That is one monster truck!

Techno - You have the same rattle! I get it when the revs drop...slowing down, because the engine vibrates more at that time (I guess). Very annoying! I'll be checking my cat shield ASAP.

 

Very easy to fix. You can either put the front of the car up on jackstands or ramps - personally I use jackstands because I'm always afraid of hitting the front air dam on the ramps (these cars are low!). Stick your head under behind the front wheels (once you have the car secured and chocked - duh) and the cat is pretty much in the middle - you should be able to find it easily. There are two bolts at the front (one on each side) - these were the offenders on mine. You might need to wriggle under there a bit, but it's an easy, easy fix. Took me all of about two minutes when I was in that area last putting the starter back in. Good luck.

 

Do I have to remove the plastic belly pan to get to the cat, or is it more towards the back...exposed?

 

The cat is exposed from underneath the car. Its literally directly below the center console. Im going to take a look at the heat shielding this saturday. Hopefully i can get that to go away...sort of sours the exhaust note .