I have a strange rattling noise that happens when in 2nd 3rd 4th or 5th and have the pedal down about 30%. It is very tinny but loud. My friend said it sounded like knocking but my other friend said it might be my heat sheild or something.

I use regular 87 gas.

ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THE HECK THIS SOUND IS??

need help before warranty is up. thanks

 

Funny you mention you're running low octane gas as though you suspect this could be part of the problem. Does the sound go away when you run premium? I know the one time I ran 87 in my car it ran like crap.

 

speaking of gas, is 89 ok? that is what I use.

 

I drive about 100 miles a day in my '02 max.....and I have found that nothing loves my max better than premium. It runs great....and I get about 360 miles to a tank of gas.


jeff

 

so do you guys think its the gas that is causing the funny noise?? has anyone else ever heard something like this?

 

When heatshields rust they tend to flake apart then vibrate, the cheapest way to fix it is with worm clips, they are metal zip ties. It stops the rattling and it costs about 3 bucks. So if you can find where the rattling is, just put it around the heat shield and the rattling will stop. Never take a heat sheild off.

Try better gas too.

 

I'd recommend spending the extra buck at the pump to get premium at all times. You'll be amazed how much more power you have since the knock sensor won't be going nuts. At the very least, get premium once to rule this out - I ran 89 once and my car would nearly die when I stepped into it.

 

Now the question is which heat shield do I look at. Aren't there more than one? I know that the sound is coming from closer to the driver than from the front of the engine.

Anybody recommend gas treatment?

 

I use premium and I get about 440 out of a tank. I drive about 60 miles per day.

 

I think i read in the owners manual to use gas higher than 91 octane rating