Everytime I go over a bump, I hear clanging noises (like something is loose) from under the car. This is irritating and my mechanics have mentioned that this is normal as the sounds come from the heat shields and mufflers. Furthermore, they say that nothing can be done. Is this true?

 

No, it's not normal. Time to change mechanic?!

 

Heating Flapper Boxes?

 

My first thought as well. To produce the heat flapper sound, close the windows and shut the door with a bit of force, you will hear a clanging noise, if thats what you hear when going over bumps, it is perfectly normal.

 

Thanks for the feedback! I definitely can't replicate the sound from shutting the door with a bit of force. Btw, the last time I slammed the door the power door lock seized up and I couldn't unlock the door from both inside or outside.

The other day when my wife was driving to pick me up, I could hear the clanging while she was approaching me. Such a shame as the sound from the engine is so beautiful only to be spoiled by annoying sounds from under the car.

 

In that case, I would get under the car and check the heat shields around the catalytic converter, the screws are know to loosen and the shields will rattle.

 

Did you recently have any service done around the front swaybar? I had a shop checking some stuff when I got the car, and they didn't dip the swaybar bracket into the groove on the control arm, so when you drove over a bump the bracket and bar would make a metal clacking sound.