Rattle is getting worse...

[headturner]

I have a 96 3.8, when i am idling or give it a little gas there is a rattle. I crawled under there to see where it was coming from. Its coming from around flywheel/clutch area. I know its not my cat. It doesnt matter if my clutch is engaged or i have it in gear. Somewhere i read on here that the spring governing the pinion gear could be hitting the flywheel?? i did notice that there is a mark on all the teeth on the flywheel. think this could be it???

[loser]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

are you sure its not a heat shield? the one around the cat is close to the clutch/flywheel area. just trying to eleminate the easy stuff. ive never read anything about the pinon problem but it seems possible.

[Ace]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

Just be carefull ! It could be a sign of your clutch about to go.

[headturner]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

The clutch is working fine, it goes into gear fine and isnt grinding. I have heard however that it could be the throwout bearing. Any truth to this??

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

are you sure its not a heat shield? the one around the cat is close to the clutch/flywheel area.

The Cat heat shield rattles on my 96.

[iGoRa]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

The Cat heat shield rattles on my 96.

It did on mine too , and there is another one down the pipe.

[loser]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

The Cat heat shield rattles on my 96.

seems to be a common problem, it rattled on mine too. i just ripped it off.

any updates on the car? check the whole exhuast system and heat sheilds. does it rattle over bumps/pot holes? is it constant or hit and miss?

[loser]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

It did on mine too , and there is another one down the pipe.

the one on my I pipe rattled a little too but i was able to bend it a little and it stopped rattling.

[headturner]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

I checked the heat shield on the cat. The rattle is definately coming fromthe engine area. It rattles at low RPMs. I have looked for hours trying to find some sort of shield loose. Could it be something in the lower end of the engine? or would that rattle all the time instead of just low RPMs. I plan on doing the clutch in a couple weeks so i guess i will just park her untill then:mad:

[UDLOSE98]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

if its engine related it usually is more distinctive than a rattle.

[firebirdfixerupper]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

seems to be a common problem, it rattled on mine too. i just ripped it off.

any updates on the car? check the whole exhuast system and heat sheilds. does it rattle over bumps/pot holes? is it constant or hit and miss?

I have this kind of problem on my '98 Firebird 3.8. Whenever I go over potholes or bumps there is a metal rattling. Would this be the cat heat shield?

[redbird00]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

header bolts??

[benavidez19]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

I bet its the muffler hitting that support thing right under the DS. I think its called tubular somthing. I took mine off and problem solved.

[Vanquish]

Re: Rattle is getting worse...

I bet its the muffler hitting that support thing right under the DS. I think its called tubular somthing. I took mine off and problem solved.

He already said it's coming from somewhere close to the engine, you are referring to something after the tranny so I doubt this is it, unless he has bad ears.

Remove your heat shield from your cat and drive around for a short while or just sit there and keep it revved in low rpms and see if anything happens.

A sound clip would be a great thing for us to have if you have the capability of getting us one.