Rattling Noise

[imported_Slick]

I have a funny rattling noise in my car. I think it's either the heat shield or the catalytic converter, though I haven't looked yet. Has anyone had this problem? I'm wondering if removing the heat shield is potentially dangerous. TIA

[imported_biocac]

Remove the heat shield my friend! This a a very common problem!

Sam

[imported_micah]

I prefer to rip it off with a pair of vice grips and then beat on it with a sledge hammer... god i hate noisey heat shields.

[imported_Slick]

I'm not so sure its the heat shield now. We took a look under the heat shield is on pretty tight, theres no holes in the sheild or cat. The sound is only at 1500 rpms, and sounds like its between where the cat meets the exhaust piping.

I ended up meeting w/ one of my friends later on and I explained the problem I had. He said his friend's SI had a rattling noise that happened at 1500rpms. I was like thats whats happening to me. He said he thinks its just a gasket, which is good news for me. Maybe I'll take the heat sheild off just incase anyway. Thanks for the help guys.

[imported_DIYperformance]

Well just in case if it is the heatshield, it would only rattle at certain times anyways. This is called resident or resonant frequencies. (I forget which one it's called). It just means that everything made has a certain resonant frequency that will cause that object to vibrate when that frequency is hit. So at a certain pitch of the exhaust note, it would match that frequency causing the object to rattle. It's probably like a weak spot or some physics crap like that.

I don't really know how I could have explained this any more confusing.

[imported_biocac]

The above is most def. true! If it turns out that it's just the gasket that's sandwitched inbetween your piping and cat, I'm sure that'd make a sound as well . . I just don't think that would be loud enough for you to really hear, ya know.

I'm sure that you'll find it with enough looking.

Sam -

[imported_Slick]

Thanks guys, DIY I kinda got it, haha. I'll keep up the search.

[imported_micah]

What works for me to isolate those rattles... grab a cardboard tube left over from x-mas paper

put one end to your ear and try to find the source.

LOL that kinda sounds like a line from the matrix