This noise that sounds like a rattling happens when the car is in drive and is just idling there. I have tightened all of the bolts on the exhaust system so I have no idea what else it could be. But other times I can hear it when I am accelerating and it goes tap tap tap and rapidly gets more consistant, but then I usually don't hear it once I get up to speed. So any ideas let me know.
get a broomstick and hold it to your ear and listen (by holding the stick on parts ) around the motor when its making the noise. Start with the accesories up front and work your way back. Be careful upfront around the fan :)
If that don't work, stick a rag in each tailpipe to block the exhaust pipes and see if you can hear it better. Listen around the manifolds/headers might be an exhaust manifold gasket
If that don't work take the belt off, start it up and see if the noise goes away, don't run it too long without the water pump and fan running keep an eye on the temps!
i think the tap tap sound could be exaust leak but u just gotta get in there n look round. btw did u get my message?
I am pretty sure it is an exhaust leak, now I just need to close in on it. Any good way to do that? And I am pretty sure it is around the manifold on the passenger side, but how can I make sure?
my neighbor has a stethoscope (SP) thingy docs use to listen to heart beat etc... well its modified with a small diameter metal tube inserted into the rubber and we poke around with that while listening for noise change... as long as exaust pipes are not rusted up... you would look at exaust manifold/header to the engine block... the manifold/header to exaust pipe... and any other connections. if u think its passenger side... check it first... u may also have a crack in the manifold. but check the pipes while listening for the leak... you can check for cracks, pin holes, rusted out spots... check even ler/catalyc convertor etc. hope this helps u can use ur ear too... just dont burn it
You could also take a length of hose about 3' (1/4" clear hose works good) put one end in your ear then go over everything, you can buy those stethoscopes at most auto supply places, theyre handy too.
Heat shields on the cats?
Ok well I had a rebuilt transmission put in it last year sometime and it started making it after that. So the exhaust was probably put on and they messed it up some how.
It very well could be the catylist in the converters.It can get broken and rattle like a can of rocks.Mine was like that and I pulleed the exhaust,got a long metal bar,sharpened the end like a chisel and then,got a hammer and beat the catylist out until they were hollow.No more rattles,freer flowing exhaust.I have the off road x -pipe now,but in the meantime,check it out.
Ok so I tried to get that cat off there but yeah it is like rusted and it isn't moving at all. So I figured I would have the fellas at my hometown ler shop take the thing off there. And since I am at college now I have very little time to fool with it.
I was just guessing.I don't know without looking.You may be able to "tap" on it with something and see if you hear anything before you spend money on anything.Crawl under the car and start banging on things with your hand until you find a rattle.
On the Vic' is was the metal heat sheild on the cats? Could it be that on a bird too?
If it sounds like a thin metal rattling it's most likely the heat shield on the cat.
Like said above, if it sounds like a bunch of rocksm its the inside the cat.
Check it out before you take it to an exhaust shop. If it's just the heat shield, you can rip it off there or throw a stainless band clamp around it.
I vote ---a heat shield on cat also. You hear it well when, say pulled up to a building drive up --like a bank window or McDonalds because the noise reverberates off the nearby wall. I had rebolted one cover say 12 years ago--and now I hear the same noise again. Have not checked it out yet--but the sound is a give away.
JR
So can I just take the cat shield off totally? The cat is about ready to rust through so I wouldn't see why not.
Yup, just bend the shield back and forth and it will brake right off.