I have an auto 97 Max GXE. I've been noticing for the past month that everytime I step on the gas, I hear a rattling sound from the front end of the car.. sound almost like a small piece of metal (or bolt) rattling. The noise is most appearent at 1000-1800 RPM, going uphill. But when I try to duplicate the rattling sound while the car is idling, no noise, just the engine revving. Where and what do you think this may be?

Tks in Advance-
Ange

 

Mine does it from time to time too. Does it sound like it is coming from the engine? Like engine knock?

By the way, impressive list of mods. Car looks good...

 

Thanks, there's always room for improvement
My car always have that rattling sound now (in 1st gear).

 

I had a rattling in my max after I had the y-pipe installed. I was sure that it was comimg from the front but my mechanic re-supported the b-pipe and the sound went away. It is amazing how sounds travels.

 

its the y pipe hitting the bracket..

 

Not in my case... this rattling has been going on well before I got my y-pipe installed.

 

There are heat shields on some parts of the exhaust system. Sometimes one corner or one end of a heat shield breaks free. This condition gives rise to all sorts of weird intermittent rattles, buzzes, clunks.

 

i totally agree with the heat shield rattle. i just had mine cut off because it was rattling.. i dont think its a big deal cuz the dealer did it.

 

The entire exhaust system (with the exception of stock muffler) has been replaced with y-pipe, Cat, b-pipe. The rattling is coming from the front and the noise is easily differentiated from the noise from which the y-pipe emits. Would you please direct me as how do I go about determining if it is indeed the heat shield, where and what should I look for and what to remove/tighten, if any?

Thanks Daniel B.
AnGe

 

hey AnGe....

you need to change the Stealin in your LQQkS of your sig... it is suppose to be $tealin...

my y and b should be here by next week....i hope..
and where did you het your cat?

 

i get this weird rattle when accelerating too. sounds like its coming from
under the shifter or somewhere in that area.
it started after i got the y-pipe put in.

 

Raise the front of the car and support it on sturdy jackstands. Slide under and make a visual inspection of the exhaust system. Thump each part with your fist or a rubber mallet. Look for something loose. Have an assistant grab the tailpipe and forcefully wiggle it up and down, left and right, while you watch and listen.

While you are under there, look for anything which looks amiss. Those plastic splash guards may have become loose or damaged and are flapping around. There may be some road trash which has become trapped in the undercarriage.

I like to call this kind of patient diagnostic examination "looking for clues at the scene of the crime." Be a detective; look for those clues. Good luck!

 

Had the same problem a while back and found out that one of the air conditioning lines (on the left side of engine bay as you are looking into the bay) was just barely touching my FSTB. From inside the car, the noise sounded like it was coming from underneath...like a heat shield or other exhaust component. The fix was simple...just pushed the hose/hose mount away a little.

 

The AC pipe was adjusted shortly after my FSTB was mounted. But I know what you're talking about. Some people overlook that and with constant rubbing bet. the fstb clamp and the AC pipe over time, cause the AC pipe to break(containing Freon) and the rest is history.
I will look into the heat shield theory Daniel presented this weekend.

Thanks !
Ange