If I slip the clutch ( in first gear at really slow starting speeds ) I hear a rattle. I'm not sure of where its coming from...

It sounds like it towards the back of the engine around the firewall..maybe back at the y-pipe/cat joint.

This seemed to start around the time that I installed the RT cat, so I assume that there is a loose heat shield or something with the cat ( I am going to look once the weather gets a little warmer ).

My main question is this...could this be the clutch? What does "clutch chatter" sound like. The only clutches that I've had go on me in the past just started slipping ( both Nissans ).

FYI the car has 69k miles on it and I know nothing about how it was driven before I purchased it.

Thanks!

 

You are probably correct in assuming that the RT is the problem. As for clutch chatter, I myself am not to familiar with what that is but I can tell you that I have replaced my clutch on my celica 3 times already (260,000 miles) and I knew it was going bad because of slipping at highway speeds.

 

I had a rattle in my car too. I thought it was the suspension, since it happened when I hit bumps on hard right turns. But it ended up being a bent "intermediate exhaust pipe." I had it repaired, and everything is quiet again.

 

Chatter is a rapid slip-grab-slip-grab phenomenon. It is felt more than heard. It occurs only while the clutch is engaging, and is most noticeable when starting from rest. As soon as your foot is off the clutch pedal the chatter stops.

Clutch chatter may be caused by, or aggravated by,
- oil or dirt on the friction surface (leaking rear main engine oil seal)
- glazed friction surface (excessive heat resulting from abusive driving practices)
- pressure plate diaphragm spring misaligned
- loose or broken engine mounts

 

And now I know. Thanks!

 

I have the same problem. I hear a loud chatter noise like a heat shield is loose, but they are all intact. This only does it when I pull out in first and shift from first to second. I have not changed anything on the exhaust near the engine.

The car has 102K on it...any suggestions on what it might be?