Hey guys....quick question. Started to hear a rattle coming from what I believe is the front sectionof my exhaust, not your usual rattle, but a really hollow tinny sounding one. Especially when shifting from a low gear and low RPM. Bad catalytic?, what's the best way to tell, and what's the best solution. Standard stock type, or cheaper to go higher performance exhaust route.
1996 SE 5 speed 108k

 

Tinny sounds may arise from an exhaust system heat shield which has become loose. This problem is easy and inexpensive to repair.

 

Thanks Daniel....which heat shield, have done quite a bit of DIY work on European cars, but surprise surprise, after 108K I've only needed to do a Brake Job, hence, fairly unfamiliar with exhaust system.

 

probably is the heat shield. my old legend made that exact same noise. i took it to my local muffler shop and they said 100k miles will loosen things up. then he held a crow bar and squeezed the cat to something else and revved the engine and the noise was gone. he then moved the crowbar away and revved the engine again and the noise was there again. i asked if it was harmful to run it the way it is and he said no. so i just left and kept on driving with that noise.

 

I can't say which heat shield without looking at your car. There are several sheet metal heat shields attached to the outside of the exhaust system. Get under there and jiggle each one in turn to see if any are loose. If you find a loose one, figure out some way to secure it. Maybe a metal muffler clamp, maybe some sheet metal screws. It all depends on how it is broken. Maybe a muffler shop will do the job with a few tack welds.