Rattling noise during acceleration...

T

Trefty

Member

Aug 13, 2004

117

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16

Oct 15, 2004

#1

• Oct 15, 2004

• #1

My car is making a rattling noise when I accelerate. It sounds like its coming from the front passenger side, but I'm not entirely sure. My first instinct was that it my headers were a bit loose and that the rattling was caused from exhaust gases, but I tightend them up and the rattling continues. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here has experienced this same problem and may have an idea of what I could check out to fix it. Any help is appreciated!

 

Stroked&Blown

New Member

Sep 9, 2004

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CT

Oct 15, 2004

#2

• Oct 15, 2004

• #2

Is your car stock?..what are your mods? Detonation? Smog pump? Need more info..

 

NYC LSC

Founding Member

Feb 16, 2001

626

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Staten Island, NYC

Oct 15, 2004

#3

• Oct 15, 2004

• #3

Your cold air pipe hitting the strut tower?

 

PhLoBuS

New Member

Aug 15, 2004

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Beverly, MA

Oct 15, 2004

#4

• Oct 15, 2004

• #4

I have a rattle and I believe it is my exhaust I am getting under the car tomorrow and going to figure it out... I will let you know, mines on the passenger side towards the front

 

hllon4whls

BANNED

Founding Member

Jan 17, 2002

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Covington

Oct 15, 2004

#5

• Oct 15, 2004

• #5

Trefty said:

My car is making a rattling noise when I accelerate. It sounds like its coming from the front passenger side, but I'm not entirely sure. My first instinct was that it my headers were a bit loose and that the rattling was caused from exhaust gases, but I tightend them up and the rattling continues. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here has experienced this same problem and may have an idea of what I could check out to fix it. Any help is appreciated!

Click to expand...

Sounds like the motor is pinging or predetonating under load. What is your timing set at, comperssion, etc?

 

nasdstang

New Member

Oct 11, 2004

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0

Oct 15, 2004

#6

• Oct 15, 2004

• #6

if its a continous noise and quits when you let of it, its more than likely gonna be your timing chain is stretched, time to replace it

 

1

1slyfox

Founding Member

Aug 12, 2002

128

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Concord, MA

Oct 15, 2004

#7

• Oct 15, 2004

• #7

It could be that the catylitic internals are coming apart and the pieces are rattling around inside the h-pipe. Ford recalled tons of them.

 

PhLoBuS

New Member

Aug 15, 2004

473

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Beverly, MA

Oct 15, 2004

#8

• Oct 15, 2004

• #8

I know for a fact mine is not the engine, its the exhaust. Ever since they were installed it has made this noise!

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Oct 16, 2004

#9

• Oct 16, 2004

• #9

have you gotten under there and pounded the exhaust to listen for the noise? (car off, be safe and all).

if the precious metals in the cats have come loose, when you pound on it, you might hear it rattle around in here (the facade of metals breaks loose and rattles/oscillates).

if the install was recent and a shop installed the exhaust, i might go bug them.
good luck.

 

T

Trefty

Member

Aug 13, 2004

117

0

16

Oct 16, 2004

#10

• Oct 16, 2004

• #10

Thanks for the advice guys, im gonna spend tommorow trying to tackle this problem. It does sound like the rattling is coming from under the passenger seat, so the cats could be the reason for it. In any case, I think it might have to do with the exhaust because the noise only occurs when I accelerate. Anyway, im gonna check it out tommorow, I appreciate the help

And my car is stock aside from the new CAI and BBK headers.

 

GRGT1994

New Member

Sep 22, 2004

1,034

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Oct 16, 2004

#11

• Oct 16, 2004

• #11

I had an ugly rattle coming from about mid car (kinda like you describe), but I couldn't locate it to the driver or passenger side. It rattled especially under acceleration, or on downshift, and seemed to be most noticable at particular engine rev speeds.

Anyway, it turns out my issue was the heat shields on the cats. They came loose in 3 corners and rattled. But you couldn't tell at all by banging on the exhaust system. That just didn't get the shields to rattle. I could tell they were loose by trying to gently pry or move them around, and sure enough they had bit the dust.

Keep this in mind as you search for your issue. I agree it could be cat internal issues. But if it turns out its only the shields, you can solve that real simply (and cheaply) by ripping em off!

Good luck.

 

T

Trefty

Member

Aug 13, 2004

117

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16

Oct 17, 2004

#12

• Oct 17, 2004

• #12

GRGT1994 said:

I had an ugly rattle coming from about mid car (kinda like you describe), but I couldn't locate it to the driver or passenger side. It rattled especially under acceleration, or on downshift, and seemed to be most noticable at particular engine rev speeds.

Anyway, it turns out my issue was the heat shields on the cats. They came loose in 3 corners and rattled. But you couldn't tell at all by banging on the exhaust system. That just didn't get the shields to rattle. I could tell they were loose by trying to gently pry or move them around, and sure enough they had bit the dust.

Keep this in mind as you search for your issue. I agree it could be cat internal issues. But if it turns out its only the shields, you can solve that real simply (and cheaply) by ripping em off!

Good luck.

Click to expand...

Hehe, well, I have been planning on buying an off-road H-pipe eventually, so if my cats are shot, this will be the motivation I need to spend that money!

When you looked at the cats could you visibly tell that they were wrecked or could you only sense they were gone by moving them? It does seem like this could be whats wrong, hopefully I'll find out tommorow. Thanks again for the help!

 

PhLoBuS

New Member

Aug 15, 2004

473

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0

Beverly, MA

Oct 17, 2004

#13

• Oct 17, 2004

• #13

I found out I have a metal loop near the exhaust that is hitting it, its actually linked to my h-pipe. Its useless so I am going to just cut it off with a sawzall or something

 

T

Trefty

Member

Aug 13, 2004

117

0

16

Oct 18, 2004

#14

• Oct 18, 2004

• #14

Well, I checked the cats today, they're fine. Checked to make sure my headers were snug with the h-pipe, they were. But, I noticed that there was exhaust escaping from the back of the passenger side valve covers, quite a bit. Took off the valve cover and the gasket was fine, tightened it back down and realized that its probably the header gasket that is causing the loss of exhaust. So I'm gonna get a new header gasket tommorow and hopefully that will solve this nightmare!