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Metallic Rattle

C

CLASSVT

Veteran CEG'er
Joined
May 2, 2003
Messages
738
Location
Fort Wayne, In
I get a faint metallic rattling sound at idle some times. Some said it sounds like a heatshield rattling, but I've got under to check my heatshield and there is no indication that it's loose or rattling. So yesterday it happened again, and I turned the AC on to see if it would stop, and it did immediately. (purely a lucky guess I assure you) So can any of you make a correlation between the rattling and the AC? Where should I be looking for a culprit?
 
AliasJerk said:
Lets see... 3L hybrid, Spec clutch/flywheel.


Clutch chatter.
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OR gear rollover noise. As far as the A/C having anything to do with the noise, the computer does raise the RPMs a bit when you switch the A/C on so that's what's probably making it seem like there's something going on with the A/C.
Karl
 
cannondalemtb said:
Close... sounds to me like the clutch on the AC compressor
Click to expand...


That's what I was kinda' thinking, but I wasn't even sure if the AC comp had a clutch!:laugh: As for those who say it's from my spec chatter, um no.:blackeye: (I'm not a complete idiot.:cool: ) So should I expect the AC comp to need replacing soon? Thanks in advance.
 
The A/C clutch should click in positively, but not chatter or slip. The engine changes speed a bit, might set off a rattle. I had a loose heatshield on the main catalyst, there are 2 catalytics on the engine too. Give each one a mild tap when the exhaust is cool and see if you hear it.
 
The noise is only heard when the AC is off and only at random, not all of the time. I've been under the car to tap around the heatshield on the main cat, and it's tight as a fiddle. But my question still remains... does this noise possibly mean my AC comp is needing replaced, or would it be more likely that something on the compressor needs tightening up?
 
CLASSVT said:
..... does this noise possibly mean my AC comp is needing replaced, or would it be more likely that something on the compressor needs tightening up?
Click to expand...
No and no. If it is the a/c compressor clutch, then that is what needs to be replaced or fixed. Is the a/c working well?
 
sometimes the crap inside the cats comes loose and makes that kind of noise almost like marbles in a tin can ...
 
The A/C works very well, and got heavy use all summer. However, why would my A/C comp clutch start rattling out of nowhere, even when the A/C hasn't been run all day?
 
Squeaks and rattles. So annoying. Especially if they're intermittent. Hard enough to determine the source in person. Harder still over the internet. Well, I used to be the guy who got the squeaks and rattles and water leaks at the dealership I worked at. Crappy warranty work didn't pay much. Anyway, I'll reiterate what I said before. It appeared to me then, as now, that the rattle is RPM dependant. A/C on, no rattle. A/C off, rattle sometimes. The engine idles at different RPMs based on whether the A/C is on or off. My car's idle does anyway. So that's probably all the A/C has to do with this. Your only course of action seems to me is to get the car up in the air and get a rubber mallet and start hitting stuff under there until you find the rattle. Maybe it is a heat shield. Or a brace. Exhaust pipe. The list is endless. Either that or wait until it gets louder. :blackeye:
Karl
 
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