Loud rattling noise towards the middle of the car..

[MRLancaster]

When ever i start moving like from a light or parking spot, when the exhaust is loudest theres a loud rattling sound, like metal clanking, i checked my heat sheilds and they arent loose, it did it with the stock exhaust and it does it worse with the wrx exhaust. SO theres obviously a piece of metal loose or something rattling, anyideas? tempted to take all the sheilds off and see if it rattles, and if it doesnt i will find out whats causing the sheilds to rattle.

[d1giPhux]

This just happened to me.. again. Its about the millionth time. Mine turned out to be a heat shield on the TOP of the second cat. Apparently they have them on top, as I didn't know that.. and its rattling around. Really hard to find where its coming from without a lift. Know what i did? Found a midas muffler who will do 'estimates' for free, then when they had the car in there.. I just asked them to look for the rattle, and they found it and told me where it was assuming I would pay them to fix it later. Basically a free way to get your car up on a lift / diagnosed.

Also.. another possibility is that you have blown through your cat(s), and metal is rattling around inside of them. Like i said.. take it to the shop and get your free estimate. You probably have a shop near you with SOMETHING like a free diagnostic that you can take advantage of.

Good luck!

[MRLancaster]

This just happened to me.. again. Its about the millionth time. Mine turned out to be a heat shield on the TOP of the second cat. Apparently they have them on top, as I didn't know that.. and its rattling around. Really hard to find where its coming from without a lift. Know what i did? Found a midas muffler who will do 'estimates' for free, then when they had the car in there.. I just asked them to look for the rattle, and they found it and told me where it was assuming I would pay them to fix it later. Basically a free way to get your car up on a lift / diagnosed.

Also.. another possibility is that you have blown through your cat(s), and metal is rattling around inside of them. Like i said.. take it to the shop and get your free estimate. You probably have a shop near you with SOMETHING like a free diagnostic that you can take advantage of.

Good luck!


Thanks man! it definitly sounds like a heat shield. Its sucks, because my apartment wont let me put my car on jacks or stands. i havent tried my ramps. idk if they would complain about that.

But man, that sound is annoying and embarrassing because when im driving downtown it sounds ghetto. 0.0 because shits rattling xD

[d1giPhux]

Oh yeah.. super ghetto. You should hear mine right now! :lol: sounds like im driving some old piece of crap around and EVERYONE stares. most annoying sound ever!

[MRLancaster]

Yeah, and even worse i had a rejection sticker on it! xD One of my fog lights were out and they failed me, then they tried to fail me because of my hood scoop. >.< I have an sti hood scoop and they said hoodscoops are illegal if theyre over 2 inches tall.

[Navi271]

say WHAT??! illegal?! bfffsh-HAHAHA!!!!

I'm throwing the BS flag on that one...

[MRLancaster]

say WHAT??! illegal?! bfffsh-HAHAHA!!!!

I'm throwing the BS flag on that one...


yeah, its retarded. my friend sent me stories on nasioc of people in VA getting pulled and ticketed for a hoodscoop. Thanks VA police, at least I know your keeping our streets clear of harmless hoodscoops and full of murderes and drug dealers. I always know your there for me. :D

[lord flashheart]

just take a screw driver and tap the exhaust with the handle, and start at the front and slowly work your way to the rear untill u hear the sound. thats what we do at work. but i agree with the other people, heat shield or cat.