Heat shield maybe?
 

I have an annoying rattle that sounds like a heat shield is possibly lose. It's at about 1300 RPM, and then goes away. I have not had it on a lift yet, so asking this is porbably premature. Is there a common problem with heat shields? I ask because if there is I can start there. Thanks.

Clarke

Re: Heat shield maybe?
 

Yes. Heat shields are a common problem. There is also a "resonator" between the Y pipe and the rear muffler. It has a tendency to deteriorate inside and cause a "buzzing" sound (like a coffee can full of bumble bees). Many have cut the resonator out and replaced it with straight pipe, since replacement is in the 500 buckeroonie range.

Thanks
 

Are the shields bolted, or tack welded in place? Thanks.

Clarke

Clarke:
The heat shields (2) are under the front floorboards
and are welded. The welds tend to rust out and
shields break loose and then rattle as pipes vibrate
at certain RPM ranges. Common fix (at least at my
Suby dealer) is removal. It's apparently common on
most Subies, not just SVX.
Dan

Ah, I just remembered another "rattle" in the heat shields. The Y-pipe shields tend to pick up and store small rocks. Rocks caught in the heat shields will also cause a rattle or buzz. I had the y-pipe shields removed and several stones fell out.

A word of caution about having the heat shields removed: don't be parking in any fields with high grass (especially in dry season), it could cause a fire. I park in my yard and the area where my car sits, and the heat shields have been removed, turns yellow.:eek:

My car has a buzzing noise that happens at low RPM's (around 1300-1700) and I've narrowed it down to the drivers side cat. Apparently the baffle plates get old and rattle around but when there is more pressure from more RPM's the rattling noise stops.

Just my $0.02...

That's not $0.02. That's about $400.00 --- per cat!:eek: That's why I didn't mention it. Being an "avoidist" I would rather ignore the expensive fixes and hope they go away. :D

If the car has every bottomed out before, you may also have dents in the Y section of the exhaust system.

Thats waht happened to me, and my insulation had deteriorated to nothing.


I tried banging the y shielding, and moving the insulation near metal contact points, but rattling came back after a week.



If it is the Y-shields that ardub described, just go to Home Depot, buy some rustproof, steel strips of metal and clamp it between pipe and heatshield.

I effected that fix last summer, and its been golden since.

Fixed..
 

One of the heat shields must have hit something bcause it was crumpled back a few inches. The shield was touching the exhaust and making a horrible rattleing noise. I just bent it back and all is now better. Thanks.