I don't mean to beat a dead horse but this is really bothering me...

For the past two months I've been researching on the org and other sites a rattling in my car.

- It occurs when the car is cold, under moderate to hard acceleration, between 1.5 - 4k RPM.
- The noise appears to be coming from the passanger side of the engine bay.
- I checked ALL exhaust sections, parts, and pieces and I'm sure it is not that.
- I experience NO power loss, knocking, or hesitation.
- This happened a day after I installed my FSTB, but I checked every

Some posts claims the TC tensioner, some claim coil packs, some axels.

Can anyone please shed some light on this for me? Any input you may have re: costs, time, etc., I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,

 

Is it coming from the front end? If so it may be a motor mount. Just a thought.

 

how much milage is on your car?

could be timing chain tensoner as the rattle is more aparent when the car is cold. Parts comes up to about $80 for the tensioner and guide. Repair will take a good few hours and patience.

On a side note: you shouldnt really be accelerating hard when the car is cold, along with going above 3k, its best to stay under 3k until the car is fully warmed.

 

Timing chain tensioner is not an issue with the 99 model year.

Make sure nothing is hitting the FSTB, there is an A/C line that runs up on the passenger side and may rub up against the FSTB. If thats the case, you can move the line's bracket slightly back to bring that line away from the strut tower brace.

Also check your belts and all the belt driven devices.
Alternator, A/C, Power steering pump.

 

Milage is 85,xxx.

I wrote that it happens starting at 1500 RPM and up to 4k plus I wrote moderate to hard. I don't gun it right off the line. Plus even when the temp gauge reaches operating temps, the engine itself takes about 10 mins more to warm up, then it stops that rattling.

On a side note: please don't tell me how to drive. I'm asking for help not comments on my driving habits.

 

Thanks I'll give it a shot tomorrow and I'll see what the deal is. Thanks.

 

I wasnt telling you how to drive, merely giving advice.

Common sense > you.


Good luck with the car

 

Have you tried driving without your FSTB for a period of time?

On a side note: No need to be a pr!ck to someone that is taking time out of their day to help you with your little rattle.

 

Well, thank you for the advice... I'm well aware of what can happen to a cold engine when driven hard...

I'm not picking a war w/ you, I apologize for my tone, but come on, that "common sense > you" comment wasn't neccessary. Not once have I called you any names in my post, dude...

Can we be cool? I'm just annoyed at this sound - that's all...

 

Well, the sound did start when I put the bar on so I did suspect it at first. But like the other poster said, I should check out the lines near it. As far as taking it off after, no I have not done that yet. Maybe I should, especially if there is something hitting it there, taking the bar off will allow me to hear if the noise went away...

Not being a pr!ck. Again, it just sounded condescending, almost like an implication that I drive it hard when cold even though I did mention it starts at 1500RPM, which is not hard...

Anyway, perhaps I phrased everything wrong................. I'm sorry if I've offended anyone else - all I'm asking is for help.

 

Well, one reason I mentioned it was because it is something easy to take off and put back on again. Then you can have that checked off the list.

Remember that even though if stuff isn't touching there is play in the motor when put under load. Just something to keep in mind.

 

I agree, and I'll take it off, but I won't have time until this weekend. However, how is the cold engine affecting it? Or is it just a cold climate? Could the temp be causing something to expand/shrink? Possible, I guess.

I'm also curious if the ceasing of the noise after a warm engine is because the engine is actually warm or because the temp of the engine bay has reached a certain temp. Meaning, if on a 90 degree day I start the car and drive it between 1.5 (which is when it starts) to 3k RPM, will the noise occur as well b/c the engine is "cold" or will it not happen b/c the temp of the engine bay is "hot." We haven't had temps that high here yet so there's no way for me to check...

 

I didnt call you any names in my post, but I wont distract this thread from the origianl problem at hand.

I would definately check the area the sound is comming from. a 99 wht ~87k in milage will not have the timing chain tensioner issue. I would check the belts, the tension,a/c line all in that area and see if you can pin point the noise. Did you have you belts changed at the 60k?

Taking off the FSTB, and checking would be a good way to rule that out, as a source of the problem

some parts might make a noise when cold but disapear when warm, this isnt exactly normal but can happen. For instance a whilea go my coilovers would make some noise in the morning when it was pretty cold, after about 5-10 mins of driving the noise was gone, and I wouldnt hear it until the car has sat overnight.

 

Yes, the belts were changed. Hopefully a hose or something rubbing the bar is all it is.