rattle noise..what is it?

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

Well my 00 GT has a weird rattling noise. Has had since I got it a couple of weeks ago. My 97 had kind of the same thing. Seems like it is coming from somewhere behind the center console, maybe down by the shifter...wife says it seems like it comes from around the ac vents. It only happens around 1800-2500 RPMs and only if I am giving it very light throttle maybe 1/8 to 1/4. If I get on it at all, it goes right away. If I have the car in neutral I can go under the hood and rev it up and nothing, sit in the car with it in neutral and nothing, or at least I can't make it do it when in neutral. Any ideas? It is kinda a rattle or a buzzing sound. Kind of like the frequency of that RPM range under light throttle is making something like a heat shield or loose bracket start making some noise? I have no idea. Thanks for any help!

rugster · May 30, 2007

check the shield between the tranny and the block is bolted up tight, heard that rattles around 2K for some people when the bottom bolts are lose. I believe that those bolts go in the opposite direction (point towards the back of the car). Hope that helps.

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

I remember a post about that a while back. But he said his was tight but it was still rattling. So he put some gasket material in there and it went away..will have to check it out, thanks! Any other ideas?

supastang03 · May 30, 2007

dunno if you have any exhaust set up, but possible loose bolts/leaks from midpipe to header?

or is this more of a rattling plastic console section....bc if so, welcome to the world of ford interior.

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

No, not plastic. Also the exhaust is stock but I guess bolts could still be loose. If it was the exhaust wouldn't it do it in neutral too? Any other ideas? When I searched seems there are a lot of threads on this but no solution besides the one mentioned earlier

check the shield between the tranny and the block is bolted up tight, heard that rattles around 2K for some people when the bottom bolts are lose. I believe that those bolts go in the opposite direction (point towards the back of the car). Hope that helps.

(haven't tried putting any gasket matieral in there yet, though I was under there and it didn't seem loose). Any other ideas or maybe someone that has had the same problem that found it?

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

I will be getting under there to try and mess with that plate. Any ideas on what I should try to stuff in there to see if thats it?

Any other ideas on what it may be?

DocG · May 30, 2007

Its possible that tranny plate will rattle even if it doesn't feel loose to the touch....the vibrations of the engine running at that rpm may be causing it to resonate or something.

I had an elusive rattle when I had my 04. Probably made 10 posts on here about it, without ever finding a solution. Ford even put new heads on the thing for me.

Things I ruled out....

Tranny plate
Broken Cat
Broken heat shield
Valve problems (since the new heads didn't fix it)
loose spark plug
Detonation - pinging

Mechanic buddy of mine told me it was piston slap in my case. Only rattled at a certain rpm range....between 2300 to 2800ish.....and sounded like some metal bb's in a coffee can.....pretty high pitched. But mine did it in neutral with the hood up too. I could hold it at that rpm and it would rattle all day long but once it passed it, it would stop.

So anyways, your's may not be the same problem, but there's a few things you could always check out.

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

DocG2828 said:
Its possible that tranny plate will rattle even if it doesn't feel loose to the touch....the vibrations of the engine running at that rpm may be causing it to resonate or something.

I had an elusive rattle when I had my 04. Probably made 10 posts on here about it, without ever finding a solution. Ford even put new heads on the thing for me.

Things I ruled out....

Tranny plate
Broken Cat
Broken heat shield
Valve problems (since the new heads didn't fix it)
loose spark plug
Detonation - pinging

Mechanic buddy of mine told me it was piston slap in my case. Only rattled at a certain rpm range....between 2300 to 2800ish.....and sounded like some metal bb's in a coffee can.....pretty high pitched. But mine did it in neutral with the hood up too. I could hold it at that rpm and it would rattle all day long but once it passed it, it would stop.

So anyways, your's may not be the same problem, but there's a few things you could always check out.

Thanks man! What should I use to put in there to take up some slack in the tranny plate? Can I just stuff something in there or should I try to unbolt it a little and then put something in and tighten it down?

Also mine doesn't make the buzz/rattle always between 1800-2500, it's only when at very light throttle. I can go through that RPM range with no noise at all if I am on the gas.

DocG · May 30, 2007

97stang_guy said:
Thanks man! What should I use to put in there to take up some slack in the tranny plate? Can I just stuff something in there or should I try to unbolt it a little and then put something in and tighten it down?

Also mine doesn't make the buzz/rattle always between 1800-2500, it's only when at very light throttle. I can go through that RPM range with no noise at all if I am on the gas.

I'd use a little silicone or gasket maker RTV stuff. Don't use too much or it'll never wanna come back off!

If I was on the gas, mine would make it, but it would be very brief since it skipped that "spot" very quickly and my exhaust was so loud, I couldn't really hear it....but I know it did it cuz there were a few times I could barely pick it out. No one else ever could though when I was on the gas. But you know how it is...when its your car....you know every little sound she makes

I ended up getting tired and frustrated hunting down the problem. So I sold it a while back.....but it may have been nothing. It could have just been something simple rattling that had no mechanical impact. I had just spent so much time and effort on it, that I knew I'd never be satisfied without knowing what it was that was wrong with it. Funny thing is...I test drove 2 other 03/04 GT's a few months ago...and they both made the same rattling noise.

Might just be somethig that's "normal" for a Ford. Again....yours could be having a totally different issue going on....but it sounds pretty similar.

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

So you would unbolt it enough and put a little RTV in there and bolt in down? Would it be better to stick something in there like a thin piece of rubber or something? Thanks again!

w.neurauter · May 30, 2007

I think I was the one who posted on it a week or two ago. I meant to post pics but the camera isn't working correctly so that didn't happen. The bolts were tight and it still rattled. I just pried the plate back a bit by the notch in the tranny and shoved a 2x2 inch piece of rubber gasket material on either side of it. Worked like a charm. I actually used a cut up piece of leather glove to troubleshoot it at first and then moved to the rubber material. You should be able to tap the bottom of the plate with a screw driver and hear it rattle if that's really the problem.

Hope this helps.

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

w.neurauter said:
I think I was the one who posted on it a week or two ago. I meant to post pics but the camera isn't working correctly so that didn't happen. The bolts were tight and it still rattled. I just pried the plate back a bit by the notch in the tranny and shoved a 2x2 inch piece of rubber gasket material on either side of it. Worked like a charm. I actually used a cut up piece of leather glove to troubleshoot it at first and then moved to the rubber material. You should be able to tap the bottom of the plate with a screw driver and hear it rattle if that's really the problem.

Hope this helps.

Yeah, you were the one. I am gonna go get my wifes car a new tire and I will pick some stuff up to try and see if this is the problem. Will post back shortly!

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

Here is the plate between the tranny and motor..seems a little loose, I fit those washers in by hand. Haven't driven it yet to see if that was it. But there was another thing down there it could have been but I am not sure what it is or how to make it more snug. Second picture is the box in question..and it is REALLY noisy if I wiggle it around with my hand..

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

That was unsuccessful. I tried driving around the parking lot and no noise, went to pull out on the road and it was there. I thought maybe one or both of the washers fell out, but they are still there. I also tried to stuff a folded up piece of electrical tape in the other box and it limited the movement in it significantly but not completely. I don't know if that could have fallen out or not. I hate rattles. I would have heard it in the test drive but it was a very spirited one, so no noise. I hope I find it eventually. I am pretty sure it is nothing serious. At least I don't think it can be the motor. Unless it will only make the sound under load. It isn't that loud. If I have the radio on I can't hear it. If I was 100% sure it was nothing then it wouldn't bother me AS much. Any ideas guys?

Kilgore Trout · May 30, 2007

My guess is the cats or the heat shields on the cats.

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

Kilgore Trout
My guess is the cats or the heat shields on the cats.

If so then shouldn't it still make the noise in neutral? I checked the heat shields and they seemed fine. If it were the cats though; exhaust still goes through them in neutral. Would being under load make any difference to the cats at all? Thanks Kilgore!!

Kilgore Trout · May 30, 2007

I think the cats are more likely to rattle under loads.

Also, could this be detonation? If so your engine is at risk...

Most likely cats though.

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

As far as detonation, I don't think so. I have never heard it before though. Wouldn't it detonate more the more you got on it if something were wrong? Not only under very light throttle? I will search and see if I can find any video/sound clips of it to see maybe...I am worried now Runs like a champ though.

So cats can rattle while the engine is under load but be quiet when freely reving?

EDIT: Pretty sure I am running 91 in it too..

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

Honestly it sounds like a buzzing/rattle sound. Hard to pinpoint where it comes from. Sounds like maybe right behind the radio or ac vents. But could be coming from shifter assembly too. Hard to tell. I wish I could find it. Or somebody local could ride in it and see what they think. Most of the NW forums are Oregan though and I live in Everett (Close to Seattle). I will post over there though and see if anyone is close to check it out..

EDIT; I PMed Tylerb50 about it. He only lives like 15 minutes from me so hopefully he can take a look/listen and figure it out. Plus his Cobra is

Bluffing024 · May 30, 2007

Well I couldn't find any sound clips or videos that had pinging or detonation. IF this is the case with my car, should I try to Seafoam it? Change the plugs? As far as I know the car has stock timing. I run 89-91 usually 91 and it has done it since I have had it.

rattle noise..what is it?

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