First off, I have a 2k2 GLE max with ~49975 miles and it's been making a strange rattling noise recently.
I was about to head into the stealership and take advantage of my warranty by having my car checked out because whenever I accelerate, I can hear a rattling noise coming from somewhere in the front where the engine bay is located.
Now this could very well be engine-related rather than the transmission, but the rattle never happens when I am idling. In fact the rattle only happens when I am accelerating. This leads me to believe that it might be the tranny.
I last had the tranny fluid flushed at 25k miles and I guess its about time to do it again, but the rattling noise troubles me, and I hadnt even noticed it until recently. I will probably try and get them to drop the pan for the first time so that I can see how thick a layer of metal shavings I have accumulated, but we'll see how receptive they are to that idea.

Anyone else have this problem? And if so, did the tranny flush solve that problem because I know the stealership is gonna try conning me into paying for that first before they break down and crack open my tranny.

 

There is something loose, that needs to be tightened or replaced. My buddy had a tranny rattle. He took the car to a regular mechanic who tightened something up and didnt charge him anything. My dad's mazda was rattling all the time, idle or moving. Turns out a screw rusted away and some thing came loose under the car. So, I wouldnt take any drastic measures that will cost you big bucks, before you know what the exact problem is.

 

could it be timing chain noise too? Or the chain tensioner?

 

Hmm... thanks for the hint.
I will ask them to check on any loose screws.

My big worry is that there might be something wrong with the tranny itself. I could swear that the rattling rears its ugly head when the torque converter flips on during "spirited" acceleration.

And I will also ask them to check up on the engine chains and belts. For all I know, there might be something caught in there.

Thanks for the hints.
It seems like I am the only 2k2 GLE that has this problem thus far.

 

same thing is happening on my 2003. some rattle from the engine, during idle and while drive. seems to happen intermittenly. if i keep my injen intake on, will they use this against me when i take it into the stealership?

 

i have a 2000 SE and I have heard the exact same rattle that Sust is talking about. I have 40k miles and i have probably heard it for the past 10k. It comes and go's but its always during acceleration. Seems to be a slight delay from when I press the pedal to when i hear the rattle. Every time I bring it to my mechanic to check it out, he takes it for a drive and never hears it. Then the next day I'll hear that damn rattle again.

 

I know, I'm bringing an old thread back but I am also having this problem, but mine happens so far when I'm slowing down and letting the gears slow the car down. It makes a rattling noise when it gets in between 1500-2000 rpms, as soon as I tap the accelerator it stops but when I let go of the accelerator again it comes right back.

Anyone have this problem yet?

 

This is engine pinging.

 

Mine is not pinging, my noise is such a rattle that I thought there was a Turbo Diesel Jetta engine under my hood, definitely not engine pinging.

 

sounds like pinging to me too. have you guys been using 91+ octane?

 

I don't think in my case it's pinging. Could you explain what pinging is? Does it only occur when in gear?

93 octane everytime for me.

 

If it sounds like a metallic rattling under acceleration, its more like a faulty coil pack or two.

 

pinging is when the gasoline in your engine burns prematurely, too rapidly, or too violently resulting in the ignition of the gas/air mix in your cylinder before the spark of the spark plug. this results in a rattling noise from the engine, usually when accelerating but also sometimes at idle.

our cars have knock sensors which should make pinging virtually unnoticeable, but power will be reduced.

since you're using the right octane and still hearing the rattling sound it's probably something else. or the pinging is being caused by something not related to octane, maybe the ecu timing is off? either way i'd get it checked out as bad noises are usually a sign that something is wrong.

 

Guzo, its your ignition coils. Change all 6 cause they are all gonna go soon anyway. I just did it 2 weeks ago and now no more rattle sound.