Rattle at cold startup 06 Saleen

[jonesaw]

I have an 06 Saleen (manual) and I experience a metalic sounding rattle at startup. To me it sounds like it is coming from the front of the trans or back side of the engine. I hear it when I first start the engine in the morning, it happens when the motor is idling back down to 1200-1000 rpms and the rattle last for about 2-3 seconds. I hear it very slightly when I am driving it until the car warms up, but its really noticable at the initial startup.
I took it to the dealer and they told me it was the input shaft bearing on the trans, so they put all new bearings in the tranny. (It was cover under my warranty).
However, that didnt fix it. Took it back to them and told them when it happens. Left it overnight so they could hear it in the morning, which the tech did, and he thinks its something in the motor and I should leave it alone until it gets worse. This sounds a little stetchy to me. I told them about the seperator plate TSB 08-2-10, but said that was only for a rattle at 2000-2500 rpms and couldnt be it. I tried putting spacers inbetween the seperator plate as some people suggest, but its still there.
Has anyone else had this issue? The updated seperator plate is only $42, should I just swap them out or could it be something else?

 

[SpartaPerformance]

Separator plate, it's very common on 05-10 Mustangs

 

[jonesaw]

Mustang 06 Saleen Rattle at Cold Startup. - Video

Mustang 06 Saleen Rattle at Startup - Video

Here is how it sounds inside the car. The rattle starts near the end of the videos and last for a few seconds. Noise sounds like it comes from the front of the tranny.

 

[FordCustSrvc]

I have an 06 Saleen (manual) and I experience a metalic sounding rattle at startup. Left it overnight so they could hear it in the morning, which the tech did, and he thinks its something in the motor and I should leave it alone until it gets worse.

Hi jonesaw,

Welcome to the forum! It's beneficial the technician was able to duplicate the noise on your Saleen. Please PM your VIN and I'll see if there is anything I can do to assist. Thanks!

~Natasha

 

[rebus]

Is the car S/C?

Took it back to them and told them when it happens. Left it overnight so they could hear it in the morning, which the tech did, and he thinks its something in the motor and I should leave it alone until it gets worse.

Is this Saleen supercharged by chance? If so it may be a broken intercooler bracket rattling around inside the I/C housing, just like mine and a few others I have seen posts on. Easy to spot by removing the lid.

 

[jonesaw]

Problem solved - Exhaust hangers!

It was the exhaust mounts for the H pipe.

I ordered a new seperator plate and replaced it myself. I thought for sure that was the problem. There was even a shinny spot on the old plate right where the new plate had the cut out. But sure enough, I hear it as soon as I start it up. In fact it got worse, which made it easy to identify as the H-pipe exhaust hangers. I initially suspected the hangers and got under the car and hit them with a dead blow hammer but never heard anything. I guess since I had H pipe out to swap the plates I must have move it just enough to make it worse. After still hearing the noise after installing the new plate, I hit them again and it was clear that they were making all the noise. Even thought the exhaust hangers were perfectly centered inside the rubber isolators, the metal c-clamp would vibrate against the cross member at certain frequencies.
Removed the hangers and problem solved.

 

[SpartaPerformance]

Awesome! Glad everything worked out with minimal pain and effort.